UK surname
A surname derived from the occupational name for a cloth presser or a maker of printing presses.
In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Presser surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #32,081 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Presser is 153 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.3%.
1881 census count
11
Ranked #32,081
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1891
153 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Presser surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Presser surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 7 | #32,070 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 11 | #32,081 |
| 1891 | historical | 153 | #18,078 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil, Bedwelty and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Bedwelty | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Presser surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Presser, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Presser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Presser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Presser is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Presser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Presser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Presser is of German origin, derived from the occupation of a cloth presser or launderer. It likely emerged in the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century, when trade guilds and specialized occupations became more prominent in Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, where a "Hans Presser" is mentioned as a cloth presser in 1492. The name is also documented in other German cities like Nuremberg and Frankfurt during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The surname Presser is closely related to other occupational surnames like Walker (from the cloth-walking trade) and Fuller (from the cloth-fulling process). It may have originated from the Middle High German word "pressen" or the Old High German "pressa," both meaning "to press" or "to squeeze."
In the United Kingdom, the name appears to have been introduced by German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. One notable early bearer was Johann Christoph Presser (1739-1799), a German-born clockmaker who settled in London and became a renowned horologist.
Another significant figure was Carl Traugott Presser (1818-1883), a German-American music publisher and founder of the Presser Company, one of the oldest and largest music publishing houses in the United States. He was born in Saxony and emigrated to Philadelphia in 1849.
Other notable individuals with the surname Presser include:
1. Vladimir Presser (1876-1938), a Russian-born painter and art teacher who worked in the United States. 2. Jacques Presser (1899-1970), a Dutch historian and writer known for his work on the history of the Netherlands during World War II. 3. Theodor Presser (1848-1925), a German-American music publisher and editor, and the son of Carl Traugott Presser. 4. Arlene Presser (born 1936), an American actress and singer best known for her role in the television series "The Untouchables." 5. Jacob Presser (1784-1839), a German-born author and educator who immigrated to the United States and became a leading figure in the education system of Pennsylvania.
While the surname Presser is not among the most common surnames in the world, it has a rich history rooted in the occupational trades of medieval Germany and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Presser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 3 Pressers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 3 | 2.80x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 38.71x |
| Surrey | 3 | 5.74x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penrose in Monmouthshire leads with 3 Pressers recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Penrose | 3 | 30000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 75.76x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 119.05x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 2 | 400.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 10.70x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 25.38x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Presser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Presser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Presser households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundry Man | 1 |
| None (Scholar) | 1 |
| Retired Grocer | 1 |
| Retired Russian Mer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Presser surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Presser a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname derived from the occupational name for a cloth presser or a maker of printing presses.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Presser bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.