Monypenny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Monypenny

What does the name Monypenny mean?

The name Monypenny came to England with the ancestors of the Monypenny family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Monypenny family lived in Fife. Moneypenny is a compound name composed of two elements, the Old English moning, meaning money, and the Old English pening, meaning penny. Moneypenny originated as a nickname to identify a rich man or may have been ironically used to describe a poor man. Another derivation, which is equally valid in certain cases, indicates that Moneypenny is a local name adapted from the place called Magnepeigne in Normandy.

Early Origins of the Monypenny family

The surname Monypenny was first found in Fife where they were granted lands by the King of Scotland.

Early History of the Monypenny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monypenny research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1200, 1296, 1450, 1617 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Monypenny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monypenny Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Monypenny are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Monypenny include Moneypenny, Manypenny, Monypenny and others.

Early Notables of the Monypenny family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Monypenny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Monypenny family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Monypenny, or a variant listed above: Clemens Moneypenny settled in Pennsylvania in 1773.

Contemporary Notables of the name Monypenny (post 1700) +

Douglas Blackwell Monypenny (1878-1900), Scottish international rugby player for the Scotland National Team in 1899

The Monypenny 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: Imperat aequor
Motto Translation: He rules the sea.