Show ContentsPenfound History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Penfound Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Penfound

What does the name Penfound mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Penfound comes from when its first bearer worked as a keeper of the pound where animals were sheltered. Pinfold was an area where stray animals were rounded up if their owners failed to properly supervise their use of common grazing land as in "a pound or pen for sheep and cattle, sometimes called a pin-fold or pound-fold-a manorial holding for trespassing animals." 1

Early Origins of the Penfound family

The surname Penfound was first found in Essex where the name was originally recorded as Panfield, a location name in the Domesday Book. 2 Pancevold, was a tenant in chief; and Pancefolt, under-tenant at time of Survey. 3

While Essex, was the first mention of the family, we must look to Sussex to see the lion's share of the entries years later. Here, Thomas ate Pundfolde was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1296 and a few years later, John Pennefold was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. In Suffolk, Richard and Henry Pynfoul was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 4

"Penfold or Pennifold is an old Sussex name. Stephen Penfold was twice mayor of Chichester in the reign of Charles II., and the name is still in the town; at that time the Penfolds held large estates in the parish of Angmering: Hugh Penfold owned the Cissbury estate, Findon, in 1794." 5

Down in Devon, the "B" prefix was often substituted as in John Bynford who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1642 and in this case the family called Binneford in Crediton, in Sandford their home. 4

Early History of the Penfound family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penfound research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Penfound History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penfound Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Penfound include Penfold, Penfield, Pinfold and others.

Early Notables of the Penfound family

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

Penfound migration to Australia +

Penfound Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Bennicke Penfound, (b. 1811), aged 26, Cornish hat manufacturer, from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Duchess of Kent" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 5th January 1838 6
  • Mrs. Grace Penfound, (b. 1808), aged 29, Cornish school mistress, from St. Keverne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Duchess of Kent" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 5th January 1838 6
  • Miss Rebecca Bennicke Penfound, (b. 1837), aged 1, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Duchess of Kent" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 5th January 1838 6
  • Miss Elizabeth Penfound, (b. 1837), aged 6 months, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Duchess of Kent" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 5th January 1838 6
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf

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