Press is a surname with two unrelated origins. In England and Wales, it derives from Priest or Price. In Eastern Europe (especially centered around Minsk), it is a Jewish name, likely derived from the name Peretz. It also is a metonymic occupational surname that refers to the occupation of someone who ironed clothes, derived from the Yiddish "pres" or flat iron.
People with the surname include:
Andrea L. Press (born 1955), American sociologist
Ben Press (1924–2016), American tennis player, coach and writer
Bill Press (born 1940), American talk radio host
Christen Press (born 1988), American soccer player
Evan Press (born 2000), Welsh footballer
Fiona Press, Australian actress
Frank Press (1924–2020), American geophysicist
Irina Press (1939–2004), Soviet multi-sport track and field athlete
J. Press (fl. 1910), American clothier founder
Jim Press (born 1947), American automobile executive
Jürgen Press (born 1965), German football manager
Karen Press (born 1956), South African poet
Malcolm Press (born 1958), British ecologist and professor
Margaret Press (born 1947), American investigative genetic genealogist
Mikhail Press (1871–1938), Russian-American violinist and conductor
Moses Alexandrovich Press (1861–1901), Russian engineer
Natalie Press (born 1980), English actress
Nigel Press (born 1949), British geologist who pioneered the development of commercial applications of satellite earth observation technology
Robin Press (born 1994), Swedish ice hockey player
Sara L. Press (born 1974), American book artist
Steve Press (born 1946), American politician
Tamara Press (1937–2021), Soviet shot putter and discus thrower, sister of Irina Press
Toby Orenstein née Press (born 1937), American theatrical director, producer, and educator
William J. Press (fl. 1908), British wrestler
William H. Press (born 1948), American astrophysicist
Yeshayahu Press (1874–1955), researcher of the land of Israel
