Peno History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy
Spain

The distinguished surname Peno 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 Peno family lived in one of several places in Italy named Penna.

Early Origins of the Peno family

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

Early History of the Peno family

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

Peno 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 Peno 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 Peno 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 Penna (Luca da Penne, Luca da Penna, Luca De Penna) (ca.1325-ca.1390), was a Neopolitan jurist and a judge of the Magna Curia at Naples. Pier Maria Pennacchi was also a painter in Treviso around 1475 with works today in Venice. Also at this time was...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Peno Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peno migration to the United States +

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

Peno Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bernardo Peno, aged 26, who landed in America from Liverpool, England, in 1907
Todoroff Peno, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Rohmanly, Bulgary, in 1909
Todoroff Peno, aged 26, who settled in America from Rohmanly, Bulgary, in 1909
Vaugel Peno, aged 19, who landed in America from Goumenitsa, Turkey, in 1912
Teresa Peno, aged 26, who landed in America from Madrid, Spain, in 1917
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Peno (post 1700) +

Ronald "Ron" Stephen Peno, Australian rock singer