Show ContentsPendleten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Pendleten name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Pendleten was originally derived from a family having lived in the chapelry of Pendleton found in the parish of Eccles in Lancashire. The Pendleten surname was originally derived from the Old English word pendle which means hill. It was also derived from the Old English word ton which refers to a farm or homestead. Therefore the original bearers of the name lived by the farm that was situated on a hill.

Early Origins of the Pendleten family

The surname Pendleten was first found in Lancashire at Pendleton, a small village and civil parish in Ribble Valley which dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Peniltune and literally meant "farmstead by the hill call Penn (Pendle Hill)" having derived from the Celtic word penn (for hill) + tun. 1 Pendleton is also an inner city area of Salford, Greater Manchester, again historically in Lancashire. For both locations various spellings of the villages were found: Penelton in 1199, Pennelton in 1212, Penilton in 1236, Penhulton in 1331 and Penulton in 1356 before settling on the current spelling about 1600 or so.

Early History of the Pendleten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pendleten research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1557 is included under the topic Early Pendleten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pendleten 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 Pendleten include Pendleton, Pendelton and others.

Early Notables of the Pendleten family

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

Ireland Migration of the Pendleten family to Ireland

Some of the Pendleten family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pendleten family

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: Bryan Pendleton who settled in New England in 1630; Mary Pendleton and her husband settled in Boston in 1679; Otis Pendleton settled in Boston in 1823.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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