UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold pens.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Pence surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Kirkheaton and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pence is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 62.5%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pence surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pence surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 33 | #27,390 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Kirkheaton, Wednesbury, Portsmouth, Portsea and Tuddenham, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington | Sussex |
| 2 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Tuddenham, East | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pence surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pence, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pence surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pence household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pence is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pence is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pence, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pence is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "pens," meaning "thought" or "reflection." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century and was likely an occupational name for a scholar or someone engaged in intellectual pursuits.
During the Middle Ages, the name was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Pense."
In the 14th century, the name was also documented in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, where it was spelled "Pence." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.
The Pence surname can be traced back to various place names in England, such as Penshurst in Kent and Pensax in Worcestershire. These place names likely derived from the Old English words "pens" and "hyrst," meaning "wooded hill," or "pens" and "ac," meaning "oak tree."
One notable historical figure with the surname Pence was Thomas Pence (c. 1608-1673), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to America and became one of the founders of the town of Newark, New Jersey.
Another prominent individual was John Pence (1718-1795), a surveyor and early settler in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the region during the 18th century.
In the literary world, the name Pence is associated with James Pence (1912-1996), an American novelist and short story writer known for his works set in the American West.
The Pence surname has also been linked to notable figures in the field of science. Albert Pence (1921-2005) was an American physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.
Elizabeth Pence (1856-1936) was a pioneering American educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the first training school for kindergarten teachers in the United States and played a crucial role in promoting early childhood education.
While the surname Pence has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, thanks to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pence surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 9 Pences recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 9 | 3.00x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 8.99x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 4.90x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 5.25x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 7.48x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.97x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.33x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.72x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dukinfield in Cheshire leads with 6 Pences recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dukinfield | 6 | 194.81x |
| Harborne | 5 | 152.91x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 15.74x |
| Dewsbury | 3 | 97.72x |
| Halifax | 3 | 68.18x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 20.96x |
| Swindon | 2 | 96.62x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.79x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 4.59x |
| Lowestoft | 1 | 57.47x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 58.48x |
| Nether Hallam | 1 | 24.69x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 8.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pence surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pence surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pence households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Assistant | 1 |
| Chandelier Maker Lamp | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dyers Labourer | 1 |
| Factory Lab | 1 |
| Factory Lab Wife | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housewife Domestic | 1 |
| Labourer Unemployed | 1 |
| Salesman | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Seaman R N | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Tripe Dresser | 1 |
| Woollen Spinner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Pence surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Pence a modern rank of #37,385.
An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold pens.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pence bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.