Pennie History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe origins of the Pennie surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name originated with an early member who was 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 Pennie familyThe surname Pennie 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 Pennie familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pennie 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 Pennie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pennie Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Pennie has been recorded under many different variations, including Penny, Penney, Pennie, Penne and others. Early Notables of the Pennie familyDistinguished 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... Migration of the Pennie family to IrelandSome of the Pennie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Pennie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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