Penty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Penty surname is derived from the English parish of Pentney, in Norfolk, near Swaffham. The place-name Pentney is thought to be derived form the Old English words "pent" meaning "enclosure" and "eye" meaning "island."

Early Origins of the Penty family

The surname Penty was first found in Norfolk at Pentney, a village and civil parish about 8 miles (13 km) south east of Kings Lynn that dates back to at least the 3rd or 4th centuries as evidence of a Romano-British local pottery industry was discovered and an ancient Roman road has been found running close to the settlement. The village is situated on the north bank of the river Nar. The Domesday Book, 1 lists this settlement as Penteleist and was held at that time by Robert de Vaux from Roger Bigod, the great Norman Baron. Pentney held 3 mills, 7 beehives and 1/2 a salt mill. About a mile to the west is the gate-house of a priory of Black canons, founded in honor of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Mary Magdalene, by Robert de Vallibus (Vaux) c. 1130, a follower of the Conqueror. In the grounds of the priory, three long swords, and some silver coins, were discovered by the plough. In 1977, a gravedigger found six silver Saxon brooches while digging a grave at the church. Years later, the British Museum identified the 9th century silver disc brooches of national importance and the gravedigger was given £135,000 by the Museum which now proudly displays the items as the Pentney Treasure.

Early History of the Penty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Penty research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1211 and 1290 are included under the topic Early Penty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Penty Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pentney, Penteney, Pentony, Pentony, Pantony, Pantney, Repentigney, Repentiny, Penteneye, Pentoney, Pentonie, Pantonie, Repentignie, Penitune, Penton, Pentonie, Penitune, Pennyton, Penitone, Penteny and many more.

Early Notables of the Penty family

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

Migration of the Penty family to Ireland

Some of the Penty family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 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 Penty family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Michael Pentony, who was naturalized in New York in 1840; Thomas Pentony, who settled in Allegheny Co., PA in 1852; Nicholas Pentoney, who came to Philadelphia in 1866.

Contemporary Notables of the name Penty (post 1700) +

William P. Penty (1879-1954), American politician, Mayor of Battle Creek, Michigan, 1930-33 2
Walter Green Penty (1852-1902), English architect who worked in York, father of Arthur Penty
Arthur Joseph Penty (1875-1937), English architect and writer on Guild socialism and distributism
Douglas James "Doug" Penty (b. 1967), Canadian actor, known for his work in Battleship (2012), Gargantua (1998) and Chameleon 3: Dark Angel (2000)
Bill Penty, British academic, current Head of Trent College, Long Eaton, Derbyshire
Richard Vincent Penty FREng (b. 1964), British engineer and academic, Master of Sidney Sussex College and Professor of Photonics at the University of Cambridge
Diana Penty (b. 1985), Indian model and film actress

The Penty Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html