NameCensus.

UK surname

Penberthy

A surname indicating someone who lived near or by a craggy or rocky hill.

In the 1881 census there were 333 people recorded with the Penberthy surname, ranking it #9,038 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 330, ranked #13,765, down from #9,038 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Uny Lelant and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, The Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penberthy is 453 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

333

Ranked #9,038

Modern count

330

2016, ranked #13,765

Peak year

1911

453 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penberthy had 333 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,038 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016, ranked #13,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 453 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Penberthy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penberthy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penberthy 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 333 #9,038
1891 historical 365 #9,526
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 453 #8,460
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 346 #12,630
1999 modern 332 #13,075
2000 modern 336 #12,921
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 322 #13,260
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 326 #13,128
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 333 #13,175
2009 modern 345 #13,107
2010 modern 349 #13,280
2011 modern 349 #13,108
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 344 #13,349
2014 modern 341 #13,528
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 330 #13,765

Geography

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Where Penberthys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Uny Lelant, Illogan, Phillack and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, The Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf and North Somerset. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 Uny Lelant Cornwall
3 Illogan Cornwall
4 Phillack Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 004 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 North Somerset 021 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penberthy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penberthy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Penberthy, 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 Penberthy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Penberthy 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, Penberthy 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

Penberthy is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penberthy falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Penberthy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Penberthy

The surname Penberthy originates from Cornwall, England, and can be traced back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Cornish place name 'Penbyrthe', which means 'chief enclosed homestead' or 'principal dwelling'. The name is thought to have originated from the village of Penbyrthe, near the town of Truro in Cornwall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a certain John de Penbyrthe is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time. The name is also found in various other medieval records and documents, often with slightly varying spellings such as Penbyrthy, Penberthie, and Penberthy.

In the late 16th century, the Penberthy family was recorded as holding lands and properties in the parish of Kenwyn, near Truro. Notable members of the family during this period include John Penberthy (1543-1619), who served as a magistrate and was involved in local government affairs.

Over the centuries, the Penberthy name has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Penberthy (1614-1686), a member of the landed gentry and a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Reverend John Penberthy (1674-1744), an Anglican clergyman and author who served as Rector of Gluvias in Cornwall.

In the 19th century, Samuel Penberthy (1803-1879) was a renowned Cornish engineer and mining expert who made significant contributions to the development of the mining industry in Cornwall and abroad. His son, John Penberthy (1839-1920), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent mining engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to mining safety and technology.

The Penberthy name has also been associated with various places and landmarks in Cornwall. For example, Penberthy Cove and Penberthy Point are located near the village of Porthcurno, while Penberthy Downs is a scenic area in the Penwith district of Cornwall.

While the Penberthy name has its roots firmly planted in Cornwall, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, with notable individuals carrying the name across various fields and professions. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain closely tied to its Cornish heritage and the ancient place name from which it was derived.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Penberthy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penberthy 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 240 Penberthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.07x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 240 65.07x
Devon 45 6.64x
Glamorgan 15 2.64x
Durham 12 1.24x
Lancashire 9 0.23x
Middlesex 6 0.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.94x
Somerset 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.18x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ives in Cornwall leads with 93 Penberthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1288.09x.

Place Total Index
St Ives 93 1288.09x
Uny Lelant 28 1407.04x
Illogan 27 276.36x
Phillack 27 567.23x
Ludgvan 24 816.33x
Exeter Holy Trinity 10 375.94x
Madron Penzance 10 74.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 19.14x
Pendlebury 9 110.29x
St Erth 9 403.59x
Monk Hesleden 8 296.30x
Penarth 7 126.35x
Swansea Town 7 15.05x
Redruth 6 57.53x
Barnstaple 5 46.99x
Exeter Allhallows On The 4 360.36x
Exeter St Edmund 4 273.97x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 25.76x
Great Malvern 4 45.05x
St Clement 4 103.90x
Swimbridge 4 291.97x
Bishop Auckland 3 23.08x
St Pancras London 3 1.14x
Camborne 2 13.16x
Falmouth 2 15.31x
St Austell 2 15.86x
Awliscombe 1 166.67x
Bodmin 1 16.39x
Brandon Byshottles 1 8.24x
Broadwater 1 7.94x
Bromley London 1 1.40x
Brotton 1 23.75x
Chulmleigh 1 64.94x
Gerrans 1 101.01x
Helston 1 26.11x
Hornsey 1 2.43x
Ilfracombe 1 14.33x
Pitminster 1 64.94x
Poplar London 1 1.63x
Roath 1 3.88x
St Agnes 1 19.34x
St Gluvias 1 48.31x
Towednack 1 138.89x
Wolborough 1 11.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 16
Jane 10
Sarah 8
Ann 6
Catherine 6
Grace 6
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Nanny 5
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Amy 3
Annie 3
Emma 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Margery 3
Martha 3
Phillis 3
Sally 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Bessie 2
Elizebeth 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Nellie 2
Thomasine 2
Anne 1
Belinda 1
Betsie 1
Charity 1
Christiana 1
Elizth. 1
Emmeline 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Jemima 1
Jenifer 1
Katie 1
Lillian 1
M.A. 1
Mararet 1
Margeritta 1
Maria 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 24
James 18
Richard 12
Stephen 9
Henry 7
Thomas 5
Benjamin 4
Charles 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
George 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Alan 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Humphry 1
Lewis 1
Nichs. 1
Norman 1
Olef 1
Richd.S. 1
Samuel 1
Samuell 1
Uriah 1

FAQ

Penberthy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penberthy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 333 people were recorded with the Penberthy surname. That placed it at #9,038 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penberthy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016. That gives Penberthy a modern rank of #13,765.

What does the Penberthy surname mean?

A surname indicating someone who lived near or by a craggy or rocky hill.

What does the Penberthy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Penberthy 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.