Cress is a surname of English origin that derives from the Middle English word “cresse,” meaning watercress. The name likely originally referred to someone who lived near a watercress bed or who sold the vegetable. Today, there are approximately 4,000 individuals with the surname Cress in the United States. Notable individuals with the surname include American football player Tom Cress and Australian rules footballer Stephen Cresswell, who played for the Carlton Football Club.
