Pennebaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Pennebaker comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a someone as a personal name or literally derived from the coin. It was derived from the Old English "Penig," denoting a coin. The penny was the only unit of coinage in England until the early 14th century, and as such was a coin of considerable value.

While the Saxon heritage is the generally accepted origin of this family, another source points to a possible Norman origin as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Serlo Penné in Normandy in 1180-1195. 1

Early Origins of the Pennebaker family

The surname Pennebaker was first found in Northampton where they held a family seat from very early times, and before the 12th century had become associated with London and had moved north into Scotland.

Some of the first records of the family in Scotland include: Johannes Peny, a witness in Elgin in 1343; Mr. John Peny, a Scottish clerk, having a safe conduct in England in 1362; and a later John Peny who had a grant of the fulling mill of Ballernache in Perthshire in 1375. 2

Down in Lancashire, an ancient branch of the family was found. "The neat village of Penny-Bridge, so called perhaps from the British word Pen, 'the head,' was the seat of the family of Penny. The chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built and endowed by William Penny, Esq., was consecrated in 1791." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included various early spellings in many counties: Hurtin Peni in Kent; Alexander Penny in Cambridgeshire; Agatha Peni in Oxfordshire; and Robert Peni in Kent. 4

Kirby's Quest listed Johanne Peny in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 5

"In the reign of Anne, John Penny, Esq., lived at Charlton Musgrove, and at the same time a burgess of Glastonbury bore this name." 6

Early History of the Pennebaker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pennebaker research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1379, 1433, 1477, 1486, 1487, 1496, 1500, 1520, 1529, 1574, 1589, 1683 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Pennebaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pennebaker Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Pennebaker has undergone many spelling variations, including Penny, Penney, Pennie, Penne and others.

Early Notables of the Pennebaker family

Distinguished members of the family include John Penny (d. 1520), English Bishop of Carlisle. He was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, and at some unknown time became LL.D. of Cambridge. In 1477 he was a canon at the abbey...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pennebaker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pennebaker Ranking

In the United States, the name Pennebaker is the 17,618^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Pennebaker family to Ireland

Some of the Pennebaker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pennebaker family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Pennebaker were among those contributors: George Penny who settled in Barbados in 1635; Charles Penny settled in Maryland in 1775; P. Penny settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1769; the family also settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th century. In Newfoundland, Benedict Penny inherited property in Carbonear which dated back to 1699.

Contemporary Notables of the name Pennebaker (post 1700) +

Donn Alan Pennebaker (1925-2019), American documentary filmmaker, a pioneer of Direct Cinema
John David Pennebaker (1943-2016), American lawyer and politician, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives (1976-1992)

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/