Pinnington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The origins of the Pinnington name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Lancashire at Pennington. Interestingly, two sources claim the name literally means "farmstead paying a penny rent." 1 2

Early Origins of the Pinnington family

The surname Pinnington was first found in Lancashire at Pennington, a parish, in the union of Ulverston, hundred of Lonsdale north of the Sands. "This place, which in Domesday Book is styled 'Pennigetun,' belonged to a local family, one of whom, Gamel de Pennington, was a very considerable person at the time of the Conquest. 3 From him descended Sir John Pennington, who commanded the left wing of the army in an expedition into Scotland under the Earl of Northumberland," 4

By the time of Henry II, some of the family had branched to Muncaster in Cumberland (now part of Cumbria) and it was here that King Henry VI was concealed by Sir John Pennington in his flight from his enemies. 5

"The ancient and influential knightly family of the Penningtons were lords of Pennington from the 11th century to the reign of Henry VI., a monarch who numbered Sir John de Pennington amongst his most trusted adherents. In the first quarter of the 17th century there was a gentle family of the name at Mitton Magna. The name is also established in Cheshire." 6

Early History of the Pinnington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pinnington research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1552, 1558, 1565, 1584, 1599, 1616, 1623, 1640, 1642, 1646, 1653, 1655, 1661, 1676, 1679, 1682, 1730 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Pinnington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pinnington Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Pinnington were recorded, including Pennington, Penington and others.

Early Notables of the Pinnington family

Notables of the family at this time include William Penington, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1552, 1558 and 1565; Joseph Pennington of Muncaster Castle, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1599; and Sir William Pennington (1655-1730), 1st Baronet.Sir Isaac Penington (1584-1661), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653, Lord Mayor of London in 1642 and a prominent member of Oliver Cromwell's government...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pinnington Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pinnington migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Pinnington family emigrate to North America:

Pinnington Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Chas. W Pinnington, aged 34, who settled in America from Harrogate, in 1900
Margaret Pinnington, aged 53, who landed in America from Bootle, England, in 1909
Joseph Pinnington, aged 35, who landed in America from Ditton, England, in 1912
Joseph Pinnington, aged 4, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, England, in 1913
Mary Pinnington, aged 7, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pinnington migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pinnington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Walter Pinnington, a tailor, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Henry Crowther Pinnington, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1838 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Pinnington (post 1700) +

Suzanne Jane "Sue" Pinnington MBE (b. 1966), English prelate, Archdeacon of the Gwent Valleys since 2018
Edward Pinnington (1846-1921), Scottish art historian, biographer and journalist from Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Todd Andrew Pinnington (b. 1973), Australian cricketer from Hobart, Tasmania
Geoffrey Pinnington (1919-1995), British newspaper editor for the Daily Herald

The Pinnington 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: Vincit amore patria
Motto Translation: My beloved country will conquer.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Canton.htm