Origin of the surname Penney

Recorded in the spellings of Penny, Penney and Pinney, this is a medieval English nickname surname. It derives from the pre 7th century word "penig", the Middle English "peni", meaning a penny. The penny was the common unit of value when money was still an unusual phenomenon, and by no means denoted a coin of little value, as it does today. It was the only unit of coinage in England until the early 14th century when the groat and the gold noble were introduced. The penny was a silver coin of considerable value, and the nickname may therefore have denoted a person of some substance.

There is some evidence that Pening was used in Olde English times as a byname, for example in the placename Penistone in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname dates back to the late 12th Century and early recordings include Ailnoth Peni in the Curia Regis Rolls of Surrey in 1204, and William Peny in the Assize Court Rolls of Shropshire in 1221. Later London church registers list the christening of Henry Pynnye on the 10th September 1552 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, and Rachell Pinney on the 5th November 1593 at St. Giles Cripplegate. Charles Pinney was the Lord Mayor of Bristol in 1831, and had the uneviviable task of three times reading the Riot Act, for which he was lucky to escape with his life. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Penney. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of penney is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname penney is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of penney.

The surname Penney around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname penney. It is common for surnames like penney to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.

History of Penney

The historical chronicle of penney is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname penney can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of penney.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname penney, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname penney, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames.

Notable Figures Named Penney

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished penneys throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all penneys who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname penney who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Penney and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of penney. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname penney.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of penney, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Penney