# Presley

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For other uses, see [Presley (disambiguation)](/source/Presley_(disambiguation)).

**Presley** is a surname and given name.

## Etymology

The name *Presley* is derived from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) *preost*,[3] meaning "priest", and *leah* meaning "forest clearing".[3]

## History

Most instances of the [surname](/source/Surname) *Presley* and variants *Pressley* and *Pressly* are thought to be of [English](/source/England) origin. Later, if not found in some form originating also in [Scotland](/source/Scotland), the name made its way across the border to that country, then on to [Ireland](/source/Ireland) and to the [United States](/source/United_States). However, some of the instances of the name in America may derive from the German surname Preslar (ultimately from Bressler, meaning 'from [Breslau](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw)' (formerly in Germany, now in Poland)), as individuals in some post-colonial American records are recorded under both names.[4]

The surname came to prominence in the person of [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley) (known simply as Elvis), the American music icon, whose family, according to genealogists, has come from the German town of [Neuhochstadt](/source/Hochstadt,_Rhineland-Palatinate) in Palatinate, via a certain Johannes Valentin Preslar that emigrated with his sons to [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina) in the early 1700s.[5]

In the United States and [Australia](/source/Australia), however, Presley is often an Anglicized form of German surnames such as **Preslar** and **Presler**. This is thought to be a habitational name from [Breslau, Poland](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw). Former President [Jimmy Carter](/source/Jimmy_Carter), through his mother, is thought to descend from Johann Valentin Preslar/Presler, who along with his family reached America and later the then frontier area of the central Carolinas sometime during the mid-18th century. Elvis Presley may have had the same ancestor.[4]

Today, **Presley** ranks as the 1,825 most common [surname](/source/Surname) in the [United States](/source/United_States).

## People with the surname

- [Aeman Presley](/source/Aeman_Presley) (born 1980), American serial killer
- [Alex Presley](/source/Alex_Presley) (born 1985), American baseball player
- [Angaleena Presley](/source/Angaleena_Presley) (born 1976), American country music singer-songwriter
- [Annette Presley](/source/Annette_Presley) (born 1964), New Zealand businesswoman
- [Bob Presley](/source/Bob_Presley) (1946–1975), American basketball player
- [Brandon Presley](/source/Brandon_Presley) (born 1977), American politician
- [Brennan Presley](/source/Brennan_Presley) (born 2002), American football player
- [Brian Presley](/source/Brian_Presley) (born 1977), American actor
- [Connor Presley](/source/Connor_Presley) (born 1998), American soccer player
- [De'Andre Presley](/source/De'Andre_Presley) (born 1990), American football player
- [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley) (1935–1977), American singer
- [Erin Hershey Presley](/source/Erin_Hershey_Presley) (born 1976), American actress
- [Gerald Presley](/source/Gerald_Presley) (1942–2024), Canadian bobsledder
- [Gladys Presley](/source/Gladys_Presley) (1912–1958), Elvis Presley's mother
- [Hal Presley](/source/Hal_Presley) (born 2003), American football player
- [Harold Ray Presley](/source/Harold_Ray_Presley) (1948–2001), American law enforcement officer
- [Harriette Estelle Harris Presley](/source/Harriette_Estelle_Harris_Presley) (1862–1885), American missionary in Liberia
- [Hovis Presley](/source/Hovis_Presley) (1960–2005), English comedian
- [Jenna Presley](/source/Jenna_Presley) (born 1987), American porn star
- [Jim Presley](/source/Jim_Presley) (born 1961), American baseball player
- [John J. Presley](/source/John_J._Presley), British musician
- [Leo Presley](/source/Leo_Presley) (1922–1975), American footballer
- [Lisa Marie Presley](/source/Lisa_Marie_Presley) (1968–2023), American singer-songwriter, Elvis Presley's daughter
- [Luther G. Presley](/source/Luther_G._Presley) (1887–1974), American songwriter and musician
- [Mike Presley](/source/Mike_Presley) (born 1953), American football player
- [Pat Presley](/source/Pat_Presley) (1935–2002), Canadian ice hockey player
- [Priscilla Presley](/source/Priscilla_Presley) (born 1945), Elvis Presley's ex-wife
- [Raeanne Presley](/source/Raeanne_Presley), American politician
- [Ralph Presley](/source/Ralph_Presley) (1930–2022), American politician
- [Randall Presley](/source/Randall_Presley) (1919–2012), American real estate developer
- [Reg Presley](/source/Reg_Presley) (1941–2013), English singer-songwriter
- [Robert B. Presley](/source/Robert_B._Presley) (1924–2018), American politician
- [Sam Davis Presley](/source/Sam_Davis_Presley) (1918–1942), American sailor
- [Sharon Presley](/source/Sharon_Presley) (1943–2022), American activist
- [Steve Presley](/source/Steve_Presley) (born 1957), English rugby league footballer and referee
- [Tim Presley](/source/Tim_Presley), American musician, singer and songwriter
- [Vernon Presley](/source/Vernon_Presley) (1916–1979), Elvis Presley's father
- [Wayman Presley](/source/Wayman_Presley) (1896–1990), American mail carrier, entrepreneur, and humanitarian
- [Wayne Presley](/source/Wayne_Presley) (born 1965), American ice hockey player

## Variants of the surname

- [Aaron Pressley](/source/Aaron_Pressley) (born 2001), Scottish footballer
- [Anne Pressly](/source/Anne_Pressly) (1982–2008), murdered KATV anchorwoman
- [Ayanna Pressley](/source/Ayanna_Pressley) (born 1974), American politician
- [Babe Pressley](/source/Babe_Pressley) (1916–1965), American basketball player
- [Buck Pressly](/source/Buck_Pressly) (1886–1954), American baseball player, manager, and physician
- [Butch Pressley](/source/Butch_Pressley) (born 1941), American football player
- [Caleb Pressley](/source/Caleb_Pressley) (born 1992), American blogger, podcaster, comedian, and football player
- [Charles Pressly](/source/Charles_Pressly) (1794–1880), English civil servant
- [Chris Pressley](/source/Chris_Pressley) (born 1986), American football player
- [Clint Pressley](/source/Clint_Pressley) (born 1969), American evangelical pastor
- [Coleman Pressley](/source/Coleman_Pressley) (born 1988), American stock car racing driver
- [DeMario Pressley](/source/DeMario_Pressley) (born 1985), American football player
- [Dominic Pressley](/source/Dominic_Pressley) (1964–1997), American basketball player
- [Ebenezer Erskine Pressly](/source/Ebenezer_Erskine_Pressly) (1808–1860), American pastor and academic
- [Eleanor C. Pressly](/source/Eleanor_C._Pressly) (1918–2003), American mathematician and aeronautical engineer
- [G. Michael Pressley](/source/G._Michael_Pressley) (1951–2006), American educational psychologist
- [Jaime Pressly](/source/Jaime_Pressly) (born 1977), American actress
- [Janet Pressley](/source/Janet_Pressley), American singer/songwriter
- [James Pressly Sr.](/source/James_Pressly_Sr.) (1907–2002), American tennis player and coach
- [Jhurell Pressley](/source/Jhurell_Pressley) (born 1992), American football player
- [John G. Pressley](/source/John_G._Pressley) (1833–1895), American lawyer, judge, and American Civil War lieutenant colonel
- [Harold Pressley](/source/Harold_Pressley) (born 1963), American basketball player
- [Henry Roosevelt Pressley](/source/Henry_Roosevelt_Pressley) (1945–2005), blues and soul instrumentalist
- [O. K. Pressley](/source/O._K._Pressley) (1907–1984), American football player and soldier
- [Robert Pressley](/source/Robert_Pressley) (born 1959), NASCAR driver
- [Ryan Pressly](/source/Ryan_Pressly) (born 1988), American baseball player
- [Steven Pressley](/source/Steven_Pressley) (born 1973), Scottish footballer
- [Thomas Pressley](/source/Thomas_Pressley), African-American South Carolina state legislator
- [Thomas Pressly](/source/Thomas_Pressly), Louisiana attorney and politician
- [Toni Pressley](/source/Toni_Pressley) (born 1990), American soccer player

## People with the given name

- [Presley Askew](/source/Presley_Askew) (1909–1994), American basketball and baseball coach
- [Presley Carson](/source/Presley_Carson) (1968–2024), retired Honduran football player
- [Presley Cash](/source/Presley_Cash) (born 1997), American musician and actress
- [Presley Cassell](/source/Presley_Cassell) (born 2006), English rugby league footballer
- [Presley Chweneyagae](/source/Presley_Chweneyagae) (1984–2025), South African actor
- [Presley Ewing](/source/Presley_Ewing) (1822–1854), American politician
- [Presley T. Glass](/source/Presley_T._Glass) (1824–1902), American politician
- [Presley Groves](/source/Presley_Groves) (1841–1915), American lawyer and politician
- [Presley Neville](/source/Presley_Neville) (1755–1818), American military officer
- [Presley O'Bannon](/source/Presley_O'Bannon) (1776–1850), American soldier
- [Presley Marion Rixey](/source/Presley_Marion_Rixey) (1852–1928), American physician
- [Presley Sorah](/source/Presley_Sorah) (born 2003), American stock car racing driver
- [Presley Spruance](/source/Presley_Spruance) (1785–1863), American merchant
- [Presley Tanita Tucker](/source/Tanya_Tucker#Personal_life) (born 1989), daughter of [Tanya Tucker](/source/Tanya_Tucker) and [Ben Reed](/source/Ben_Reed)
- [Presley Thornton](/source/Presley_Thornton) (1721–1769), American planter and politician
- [Presley Merritt Wagoner](/source/Presley_Merritt_Wagoner), American clubwoman who served as the President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution from 2005 to 2007
- [Presley Norton Yoder](/source/Presley_Norton_Yoder) (1932–1993), Ecuadorian archaeologist and entrepreneur
- [Presley Smith](/source/Presley_Smith) (born 2003), United States badminton player

## Variants of the given name

- [Pressley Blake](/source/Pressley_Blake) (born 1936), Canadian football player
- [Priestley Farquharson](/source/Priestley_Farquharson) (born 1997), English footballer
- [Pressley Harvin III](/source/Pressley_Harvin_III) (born 1998), American football player
- [Pressly Matthews](/source/Pressly_Matthews) (1903–1967), New Zealand politician
- [Priestly H. McBride](/source/Priestly_H._McBride) (1796–1869), American justice
- [Priestley Swain](/source/Priestley_Swain) (1881–1949), English bishop

## References

1. ["Popular Baby Names"](https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html). *The United States Social Security Administration*. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

1. ["Presley - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity"](https://nameberry.com/b/girl-baby-name-presley). *Nameberry.com*. Retrieved April 20, 2024.

1. Reaney, Percy H (1958). *A Dictionary of English Surnames*. London: Routledge. ISBN 1134933274.

1. ["Elvis Presley Family History | Elvis Biography"](http://biography.elvis.com.au/elvis-presley-family-history.shtml)

1. ["Johannes Valentine Presley, I"](https://www.geni.com/people/Johannes-Presley-I/6000000009208382793). *geni_family_tree*. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2024-03-11.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Presley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.