Pressley is of English origin, derived from an Old French personal name 'Presli', which was likely given to children born near a clearing in the woods due to its meaning 'from the clearing'. It was brought to England by the Normans during their invasion in 1066 and has since become a part of the English naming tradition.
The name Pressley was quite popular during the early to mid-20th century, with a notable peak in births from 1947 to 1955, averaging around 9 births per year during this period. However, it seems to have declined in popularity since then, with only sporadic instances of being given as a first name between 1984 and the most recent recorded birth in 2012. Overall, there were a total of 299 births with the name Pressley over the years listed.