Penell History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Penell familyThe surname Penell 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 Penell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penell research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Penell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Penell Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Penell include Pennell, Pennel, Penell, Pennall, Pennells, Pennalls, Penal and many more. Early Notables of the Penell familyMore information is included under the topic Early Penell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Penell familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Penell were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: George Pennell settled in Virginia 1655; Thomas Pennell settled in New England in 1740.
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