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Penna History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Penna History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

The distinguished surname Penna originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Penna family lived in one of several places in Italy named Penna.

Early Origins of the Penna family

The surname Penna was first found in 1189, when Alessio Penna was created Cardinal by Pope Clemente III.

Early History of the Penna family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penna research. The years 1325, 1364, 1390, 1475, 1680, 1689 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Penna History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penna Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Penna include Penna, Penni, Pa Penna, Papenna, Penne, Penella, Pennelli, Penniello, Pennacchi, Pennario, Pennarella, Pennarelli, Pennarola, Pennetta, Pennetti, Pennino, Pennini, Pennone, Pennoni, Pennacci, Pennazzi, Pennese and many more.

Early Notables of the Penna family

Prominent among members of the family was

Francesco Penna, Senator of Rome in 1364
Girolamo Pennacchi, a 15th century painter from Treviso whose most famous work stands in the Brera Gallery in Milan and is entitled "Pietà." Other works can be seen in Venice and Treviso. Lucas de Pen...

Penna migration to the United States +

Some of the first North American settlers with Penna name or one of its variants:

Penna Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Antonio Penna, aged 10, who immigrated to the United States from Victri, in 1892
Mr. Charles Penna, (b. 1864), aged 33, Cornish miner, from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd November 1897 en route to the United States 1

Penna Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Arthur Penna, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner, from Perranporth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th September 1900 en route to Central City, Colorado, USA 1
Mr. William Edward Penna, (b. 1880), aged 20, Cornish miner, from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th November 1900 en route to Globe, Arizona, USA 1
Mr. William Penna, (b. 1872), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd August 1903 en route to Norway, Michigan, USA 1
Mr. John Henry Penna, (b. 1864), aged 39, English moulder travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd May 1903 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 1
Mrs. Mary Penna, (b. 1874), aged 30, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th October 1904 en route to Trimountain, Michigan, USA 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Penna migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Penna Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Penna, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
John Penna, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
Rebecca Penna, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
Sarah Penna, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
William Penna, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Penna Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. Edward Penna, (b. 1882), aged 23, Cornish labourer who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "Oratara" in 1904 convicted at Maitland Gaol on 21st June 1905 3

Penna migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Penna Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward Penna, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Inverness" in 1875
Mr. Edward Penna, (b. 1852), aged 23, Cornish farm labourer departing on 21st August 1875 aboard the ship "Inverness" going to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 28th November 1875 4
Miss Sarah Penna, (b. 1850), aged 22, Cornish domestic servant departing on 12th September 1872 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 29th December 1872 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Penna (post 1700) +

Phil Penna (1857-1939), American labor leader, President of the United Mine Workers of America (1895-1896)
Toney G. Penna (1908-1995), Italian-born, American professional golfer and designer of golf clubs and gear, winner of four events on the PGA Tour between 1937 and 1947
Angel A. Penna Sr. (1923-1992), Argentine-born, American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer
David "Dave" Penna (1958-2004), American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who had 1,772 career wins
Sandro Penna (1906-1977), Italian poet
David Penna (b. 1972), Australian rugby league coach and former player
Joe Penna (b. 1987), Brazilian guitarist, animator, and filmmaker, aka MysteryGuitarMan

Citations +

Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf