Contents [hide]

Penney History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Penney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The earliest origins of the family name Penney date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a someone as a personal name or literally derived from the coin. It was derived from the Old English "Penig," denoting a coin. The penny was the only unit of coinage in England until the early 14th century, and as such was a coin of considerable value.

While the Saxon heritage is the generally accepted origin of this family, another source points to a possible Norman origin as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Serlo Penné in Normandy in 1180-1195. 1

Early Origins of the Penney family

The surname Penney was first found in Northampton where they held a family seat from very early times, and before the 12th century had become associated with London and had moved north into Scotland.

Some of the first records of the family in Scotland include: Johannes Peny, a witness in Elgin in 1343; Mr. John Peny, a Scottish clerk, having a safe conduct in England in 1362; and a later John Peny who had a grant of the fulling mill of Ballernache in Perthshire in 1375. 2

Down in Lancashire, an ancient branch of the family was found. "The neat village of Penny-Bridge, so called perhaps from the British word Pen, 'the head,' was the seat of the family of Penny. The chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built and endowed by William Penny, Esq., was consecrated in 1791." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included various early spellings in many counties: Hurtin Peni in Kent; Alexander Penny in Cambridgeshire; Agatha Peni in Oxfordshire; and Robert Peni in Kent. 4

Kirby's Quest listed Johanne Peny in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 5

"In the reign of Anne, John Penny, Esq., lived at Charlton Musgrove, and at the same time a burgess of Glastonbury bore this name." 6

Early History of the Penney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penney research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1379, 1433, 1477, 1486, 1487, 1496, 1500, 1520, 1529, 1574, 1589, 1683 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Penney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penney Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Penney include Penny, Penney, Pennie, Penne and others.

Early Notables of the Penney family

Distinguished members of the family include John Penny (d. 1520), English Bishop of Carlisle. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, and at some unknown time became LL.D. of Cambridge. In 1477 he was a canon at the abbey...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Penney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penney World Ranking

In the United States, the name Penney is the 5,731^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Penney is ranked the 717^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,465 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Penney is the 11^st popular surname with an estimated 977 people with that name. 9

Migration of the Penney family to Ireland

Some of the Penney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penney migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Penney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joane Penney, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 10

Penney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Penney, who landed in America in 1804 10
Joseph E Penney, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 10
Frank Penney, who landed in Iowa in 1876 10

Penney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Penney, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, in 1902
Mr. Samuel Penney, (b. 1874), aged 29, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th September 1903 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 11
Idalie C. Penney, aged 28, who landed in America from Darlington, in 1903
Charles A. Penney, aged 40, who settled in America from Darlington, in 1903
Alf. Penney, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States from Kedderminster, in 1903
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Penney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Penney Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Fred Penney, aged 22, who settled in Harbour Main, Newfoundland, in 1915
Bertha M. Penney, aged 50, who immigrated to Sydney, Canada, in 1916
Freda Penney, aged 4, who immigrated to Sydney, Canada, in 1916
Grace Penney, aged 32, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1919
Henry Penney, aged 42, who immigrated to Carbonear, Newfoundland, in 1920
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Penney migration to Australia +

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

Penney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mrs. Ann Penney, (b. 1842), aged 43, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Quetta" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 29th June 1885 12
Mr. John Penney, (b. 1864), aged 21, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Quetta" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 29th June 1885 12

Penney 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:

Penney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alfred Penney, (b. 1862), aged 12, Cornish settler departing on 22nd July 1874 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th October 1874 13
Mr. James Penney, (b. 1865), aged 9, Cornish settler departing on 22nd July 1874 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th October 1874 13
Miss Louie Penney, (b. 1874), aged 6 months, Cornish settler departing on 22nd July 1874 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th October 1874 13
Mr. James Penney, (b. 1837), aged 37, Cornish miner departing on 22nd July 1874 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th October 1874 13
Mr. Charles Penney, (b. 1851), aged 23, Cornish miner departing on 22nd July 1874 aboard the ship "Chile" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th October 1874 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Penney (post 1700) +

Roger Penney, American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
James Cash Penney (1875-1971), American Businessman, Founder of JC Penney
Trevor Penney (b. 1968), English Cricket Player/Manager
David Penney (b. 1964), English Football Player/Manager
William Penney (1801-1872), Lord Kinloch, Scottish judge from Glasgow
Archbishop Alphonsus Liguori Penney (1924-2017), Newfoundland-born, Canadian Roman Catholic priest, Archbishop of St. John's from 1979-1991
William George Penney (1909-1991), British Physicist, one of the participants in The Manhattan Project
Steve Penney (b. 1961), Canadian NHL goaltender
Steve Penney (b. 1964), Irish footballer, played in the 1986 World Cup
Stef Penney (b. 1969), Scottish novelist and filmmaker
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Penney family +

SS Southern Cross

Mr. Norman Penney (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Carbonear who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
Mr. Amos Penney (1890-1914), Newfoundlander from Carbonear who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.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