NameCensus.

UK surname

Penaluna

A locational surname derived from a place called Penaluna in Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Penaluna surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 258, ranked #16,449, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Millom, Muncaster and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Cornwall and Berwickshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penaluna is 282 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

258

2016, ranked #16,449

Peak year

1999

282 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penaluna had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016, ranked #16,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Penaluna surname distribution map

The map shows where the Penaluna surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Penaluna surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penaluna over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 151 #12,840
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 160 #17,387
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 275 #14,335
1998 modern 279 #14,592
1999 modern 282 #14,545
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 271 #14,966
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 259 #15,294
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 264 #15,468
2009 modern 281 #15,098
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 263 #16,224
2016 modern 258 #16,449

Geography

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Where Penalunas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Millom, Muncaster, Wendron, Gwennap and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Cornwall and Berwickshire East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Redruth Cornwall
2 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 012 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Cornwall 049 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
4 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 020 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penaluna

These lists show first names that appear often with the Penaluna surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penaluna

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Penaluna, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Penaluna surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Penaluna household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Penaluna is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Penaluna is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penaluna falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Penaluna is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Penaluna, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Penaluna

The surname Penaluna has its origins in Cornwall, England. It is believed to have derived from the Cornish Pen-an-lun, meaning "head of the deep valley or pool." The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions of individuals with the name in various historical records from Cornwall.

One of the earliest known references to the Penaluna name is found in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall, a collection of legal records dating back to the late 13th century. These rolls contain entries for individuals with the surname, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

The Penaluna surname is also mentioned in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls, which were tax records compiled during the 14th century. These rolls provide valuable insights into the distribution of the name across various parishes and villages in Cornwall.

In the 16th century, the Penaluna name appears in the Protestation Returns, a series of documents recording the names of individuals who swore allegiance to the Protestant faith during the English Civil War. This suggests that the Penaluna family played a role in the religious and political upheavals of that era.

Notable individuals with the Penaluna surname include John Penaluna (c. 1590-1670), a prominent Cornish merchant and landowner who served as Mayor of Falmouth in the mid-17th century. Another significant figure was William Penaluna (1726-1808), a renowned Cornish engineer and inventor credited with numerous innovations in mining and metalworking.

Other historical figures bearing the Penaluna name include Thomas Penaluna (1801-1879), a Cornish poet and writer who published several works celebrating the culture and traditions of his homeland, and Elizabeth Penaluna (1825-1892), a pioneer in the field of nursing who worked tirelessly to improve healthcare conditions in Cornwall during the 19th century.

The name Penaluna has also been associated with various place names in Cornwall, such as Penaluna Farm and Penaluna Bridge, further reinforcing its deep-rooted connection to the region's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Penaluna families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penaluna surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 135 Penalunas recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.67x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 135 70.67x
Cumberland 15 10.32x
Devon 12 3.42x
Durham 7 1.39x
Caernarfonshire 4 5.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wendron in Cornwall leads with 50 Penalunas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1886.79x.

Place Total Index
Wendron 50 1886.79x
Redruth 15 277.78x
Camborne 12 152.48x
Helston 10 502.51x
Millom 8 179.78x
Egremont 7 202.31x
Washington 7 333.33x
Budock 6 416.67x
Illogan 6 118.58x
St Just In Penwith 6 161.73x
Stonehouse East 6 337.08x
Gwinear 4 439.56x
Kea 4 281.69x
Llanengan 4 487.80x
Crowan 3 198.68x
Gwennap 3 83.33x
Kenwyn 3 60.00x
Phillack 3 121.46x
Plymouth Charles The 3 19.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 7.39x
St Austell 2 30.63x
Callington 1 90.09x
Constantine 1 90.09x
Grade 1 588.24x
Gwithian 1 285.71x
Mawgan In Pyder 1 243.90x
Ruan Minor 1 588.24x
Sithney 1 51.81x
St Levan 1 285.71x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.07x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Penaluna surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 11
Jane 9
Ann 5
Emily 5
Eliza 4
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Grace 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Blanch 1
Cearel 1
Charity 1
Charlotte 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ellena 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Laura 1
Lilley 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Phillippa 1
Prudence 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Penaluna surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 14
Richard 8
William 8
Joseph 7
James 6
Thomas 6
Alfred 5
Urias 2
Willm. 2
Adolphus 1
Alaxr. 1
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Jane 1
Methusaleh 1
Michal 1
Phillip 1
Phillipa 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Henry 1
Zacharius 1

FAQ

Penaluna surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penaluna surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Penaluna surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penaluna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016. That gives Penaluna a modern rank of #16,449.

What does the Penaluna surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Penaluna in Cornwall, England.

What does the Penaluna map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Penaluna bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.