UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "open field" or "field with no trees."
In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Penfield surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #26,587 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Burton-on-Trent and Tardebigg. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penfield is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.0%.
1881 census count
50
Ranked #26,587
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Penfield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Penfield surname density by area, 1861 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 50 | #26,587 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 59 | #26,914 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 69 | #31,098 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 69 | #32,007 |
| 2006 | modern | 68 | #32,441 |
| 2007 | modern | 67 | #32,871 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Burton-on-Trent, Tardebigg, Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. 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 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Tardebigg | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing | Kent |
| 5 | Bromsgrove, Upton Warren | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Penfield 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 Penfield, 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 Penfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Penfield 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, Penfield 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 Penfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Penfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PENFIELD is of English origin, deriving from a place name referring to an enclosed field or pen where livestock were kept. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The name PENFIELD is thought to be derived from the Old English words "penn" meaning an enclosed area, and "feld" meaning a field or open land. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "de Penefelde" in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176.
One of the earliest known references to the name PENFIELD can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Penefeld" in the county of Essex. This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location called Penfield in that area.
In the 13th century, records show a William de Penfeld who held lands in Lancashire, indicating the name's presence in that region during that time period. Another early example is John de Penfeld, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.
Notable individuals with the surname PENFIELD include Samuel Penfield (1856-1922), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives. Wilder Penfield (1891-1976) was a pioneering Canadian neurosurgeon and researcher who made significant contributions to the understanding of the human brain.
Other historical figures with this name include Edward Penfield (1866-1925), an American illustrator and lithographer known for his art nouveau style, and Robert Penfield (1850-1918), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Penfield School of Merchandising in London.
In the literary world, Thomas Penfield (1675-1735) was an English author and playwright who wrote several popular plays in the early 18th century, while James Penfield (1819-1892) was an American author and educator who wrote several books on literature and language arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penfield 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. Warwickshire leads with 16 Penfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 16 | 13.01x |
| Kent | 10 | 6.01x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 15.71x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 2.79x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.52x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 2.36x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.41x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 6.92x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.85x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 16 Penfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 16 | 47.25x |
| Chatham | 7 | 152.84x |
| Yardley | 7 | 429.45x |
| Barrow In Furness | 3 | 38.12x |
| Hollingworth | 3 | 681.82x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 2 | 24.51x |
| Milton In Milton | 2 | 281.69x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 5.10x |
| Cranbrook | 1 | 142.86x |
| Croft | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Feckenham | 1 | 136.99x |
| Hanley Castle | 1 | 263.16x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 17.51x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 43.86x |
| St Helier | 1 | 21.28x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 7.91x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Penfield 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 Penfield 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 Penfield households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Iron Moulder | 2 |
| Labourer In Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Moulder | 2 |
| Moulder (Iron) | 2 |
| Account Book Binder | 1 |
| Boot Closer | 1 |
| Brick Carter | 1 |
| Brick Carter (S) (Agl) | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Heavy Steel Toy Maker | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (Pauper) | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Needle Paperer | 1 |
| Sack Maker | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Shoemaker & Beer Retailer | 1 |
| Stone Quarrier | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Penfield surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Penfield a modern rank of #33,700.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "open field" or "field with no trees."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Penfield 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.