Preiss

Preiss is a surname of German origin. It is a variant spelling related to Preis, the German word for price. The addition or persistence of the final s reflects common orthographic variation found in Germanic surnames and in records created by migration and transliteration. As a surname, Preiss may have originated as an occupational name for someone involved in commerce or trade, or as a nickname derived from the word for price.

Distribution and usage of the name have followed migration patterns from German-speaking regions. Today, Preiss can be found in countries with German heritage or with histories of German-speaking immigration, including the United States, Canada, Israel, and several countries in South America and Europe. In some instances, individuals with the surname Preiss may have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, where Germanic surnames were adopted in Central and Eastern Europe.

Notable bearers of the surname Preiss exist across various fields, including academia, the arts, and public life, but the name does not correspond to a single widely recognized figure. The name is primarily encountered as a family surname rather than as a widely used given name or brand.

See also Preis, a closely related surname and a common root form. The spelling Preiss may appear in historical records, genealogical databases, and contemporary contexts where Germanic naming practices have influenced family lineages.