Contents [hide]

Pender History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Pender History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Pender surname belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are thought to have originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads in Normandy. In Ireland, the name was turned into a Gaelic form as de Priondragás; however, the name has also been replaced with MacSherone.

Early Origins of the Pender family

The surname Pender was first found in Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro), a county in south-west Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, where they held a family seat from early times and were Lords of the manor of Prendergast and estates in that shire. Maurice, Lord of Prendergast was a great friend and neighbor of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke. He accompanied Strongbow in the Anglo\Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. He was summoned back to England by Henry II., in 1175 to escort the rebellious Robert, Earl of Essex, captive into Normandy in 1177. Upon his return to England he once again returned to Ireland and was rewarded with lands in Ireland in Waterford and south Mayo. 1

Early History of the Pender family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pender research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1641, 1660, 1689, 1703, 1709, 1710 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Pender History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pender Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelled the names as they sounded, so a name was often spelled many different ways during the lifetime of a single person. The investigation of the origin of the name Pender revealed many spelling variations including Prendergast, Prendegast, Pendergast, Pendegast, Prendregast, Pendergrass, Pendergrist, Pender and many more.

Early Notables of the Pender family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Thomas Prendergast (d. 1725) of Croane, County Limerick; and his son, Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Prendergast (c. 1660-1709), 1st Baronet Prendergast, of Gort, Member of Parliament for Monaghan Borough (1703-1710.) Both hail from an ancient...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pender Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pender Ranking

In the United States, the name Pender is the 4,716^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Pender migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape the horrific conditions. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Pender:

Pender Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edzard Pender, who landed in Virginia in 1726 3
Fredrich Pender, aged 33, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
Mathias Pender, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1740 3
Jacob Pender, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 3

Pender Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Pender, aged 17, who arrived in Key West, Fla in 1845 3
Thomas Pender, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1845 3
Joseph Pender, aged 25, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1845 3
John and Bridget Pender, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1850
John Pender, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1864 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pender Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Arthur Pender, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish carpenter, from Mousehole, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th March 1905 en route to Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA 4

Pender migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pender Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elenor Pender, who landed in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1807 5
John Pender, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1831 5
Mary Pender, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1836

Pender migration to Australia +

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

Pender Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Pender, (Pendergast), (b. 1816), aged 22, Irish solder born in County Laois (Queens County), Ireland who was convicted in Kent, England for 15 years for assault, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. James Pender, (b. 1804), aged 40, Irish ploughman who was convicted in County Laois (Queens County), Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Patrick Pender, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 8
Eliza Pender, aged 21, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
Margaret Pender, aged 17, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pender 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:

Pender Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Pender, (b. 1850), aged 24, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 9
Mrs. Margaret Pender, (b. 1852), aged 22, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 9
Mr. Robert Pender, (b. 1873), aged 10 months, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 9
James W. Pender, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
Mr. Jason W. Pender, (b. 1856), aged 22, Cornish settler departing on 15th October 1878 aboard the ship "Maraval" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th January 1879 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Pender (post 1700) +

Joseph William "Dad" Pender (1875-1969), American football coach and university professor
David Pender (b. 1987), American football cornerback
Harold Pender (1879-1959), American academic, author, and inventor
Melvin "Mel" Pender Jr. (b. 1937), former American Olympic athlete
William Dorsey Pender (1834-1863), American soldier, one of the youngest and most promising generals fighting for the Confederacy; he was mortally wounded on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg
Mark "The Loveman" Pender (b. 1957), American trumpet player and vocalist
Tom Pender (b. 1945), retired American college basketball head coach
Paul Pender (1930-2003), American middleweight boxer
Derek Pender (b. 1984), Irish footballer
Mike Pender (b. 1942), English founding member of Merseybeat group the Searchers
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pender family +

Halifax Explosion

Miss Anna Pender (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11

The Pender Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance