Show ContentsPenman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Penman can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a name for a person who worked as the servant for Penn. The name may also be derived from their work as local treasurers or pennymasters who were in charge of the Mint.

Early Origins of the Penman family

The surname Penman was first found in Somerset where one of the first records of the name was Simon Penyman in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1268. Others include: William Peniman in the Hundredorum Rolls of Cambridge in 1279; and Ralph Paniman or Panyman was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.

Early History of the Penman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penman research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1569, 1607, 1608, 1628, 1635, 1636, 1642, 1643, 1661, 1664, 1679, 1695, 1702, 1708, 1745, 1750, 1778 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Penman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penman Spelling Variations

Penman has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Penman have been found, including Pennyman, Penniman, Penyman and others.

Early Notables of the Penman family

Notables of the family at this time include William Pennyman (died 1628), a Clerk in Chancery, he held a third of the Manor of Marske, Yorkshire; and his illegitimate son, Sir William Pennyman (1607-1643), an English landowner, soldier and politician, High Sheriff of Yorkshire (1635-1636), he died of...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Penman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penman Ranking

In the United States, the name Penman is the 13,438th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Penman migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Penmans to arrive on North American shores:

Penman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Penman, who arrived in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina sometime between 1612 and 1784
Penman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hugh Penman, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767
  • George Penman, who settled in Boston in 1768
  • David Penman, who arrived in Boston in 1768
  • Archibald Penman, who arrived in Florida sometime between 1785 and 1845
  • Alexander Penman, who arrived in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1786
Penman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Penman, who landed in Petersburg, Va in 1852 [2]
  • Robert Penman, who arrived in Petersburg, Va in 1852 [2]
  • Isabelle Penman, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1855 [2]
  • Miss Ann Penman, aged 3, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mrs. Isabella Penman, aged 26, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Penman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Penman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Ann Penman, who arrived in Quebec in 1820
  • Miss Mary A. Penman, (b. 1837), aged 18, English servant, from Plymouth, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she survived the sinking [3]
  • Agnes Penman, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Australia Penman migration to Australia +

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

Penman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jean Penman, (Plummer, Jane), (b. 1811), aged 30, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
  • Catherine Penman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sea Queen" in 1850 [5]
  • Margaret Penman, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"

New Zealand Penman 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:

Penman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Penman, aged 36, a plumber, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
  • Caroline Penman, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
  • Sarah Penman, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
  • Fred Penman, aged 7, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
  • Maud Penman, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Penman (post 1700) +

  • Sharon Kay Penman (1945-2021), American historical novelist, New York Times Bestseller
  • Willie Penman (b. 1939), Scottish former footballer who played from 1960 to 1973
  • Howard Latimer Penman (1909-1984), British meteorologist who developed Penman’s Formula and the Penman equation
  • Ian Penman (b. 1959), British writer and music journalist
  • Colin Penman, Canadian Primetime Emmy Award winning makeup artist and makeup effects artist, known for his work on Pacific Rim (2013), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  • Ian Penman, British radio broadcaster, television producer, director and scriptwriter
  • Arthur Percival Penman (1885-1944), Australian cricketer and Australian rugby union representative who played for New South Wales (1904-1906)
  • David John Penman (1936-1989), Australian clergyman, the 10th Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne (1984-1989)
  • Andy Penman (1943-1994), Scottish professional footballer who played from 1959 to 1976, member of the Scotland National Team (1966-1967)
  • James Penman (b. 1896), Scottish footballer
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Penman 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: Fortiter et fideliter
Motto Translation: Boldly and faithfully.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA QUEEN 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850SeaQueen.htm


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