Show ContentsPennil History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Pennil family

The surname Pennil was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Ralph Pinel held a barony in Essex and Suffolk. 1 2

"It is impossible to decide to which of the Norman families of the name belonged. Several of the name are found in the Norman Exchequer Rolls of 1180-98. Ralph Pinel held four fees in 1165 of the Earl of Essex in Essex, and some land in Berkshire under Fitz Robert and Fitz Peter, another of whose tenants was Anchetil Pinel. There is some hint of a previous scandal in the family. In the Pipe Roll of 12 John, " Robert Vanx owes five best palfreys, that the King may be silent regarding Henry Pinel's wife." The Oxfordshire fee of Warin Pinel (then deceased) is spoken of in the Testa de Nevill; 3 and in 1278, Roger Pinel, Robert Pinel's widow, and Margaret, daughter of William Pinel, were all landowners in the county. Contemporary with them were Matthew Pinel of Suffolk, his brother Hugh, and Henry Pinel of Huntingdonshire." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: John Pinel, Essex; Henry Pinel, Huntingdonshire; Roger Pinel, Oxfordshire; and Mathew Pinel, Suffolk. 5

Early History of the Pennil family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pennil research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Pennil History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pennil Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pennell, Pennel, Penell, Pennall, Pennells, Pennalls, Penal and many more.

Early Notables of the Pennil family

More information is included under the topic Early Pennil Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pennil family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: George Pennell settled in Virginia 1655; Thomas Pennell settled in New England in 1740.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  4. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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