NameCensus.

UK surname

Pengelly

A locational surname derived from the place name Pengelly in Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,264 people recorded with the Pengelly surname, ranking it #3,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,609, ranked #3,866, down from #3,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Talland (incl. Looe Island) and St Martin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pengelly is 1,757 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.3%.

1881 census count

1,264

Ranked #3,224

Modern count

1,609

2016, ranked #3,866

Peak year

1998

1,757 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pengelly had 1,264 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,609 in 2016, ranked #3,866.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,731 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pengelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pengelly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pengelly 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 743 #3,550
1861 historical 645 #4,162
1881 historical 1,264 #3,224
1891 historical 1,343 #3,243
1901 historical 1,731 #2,993
1911 historical 1,726 #2,838
1997 modern 1,633 #3,630
1998 modern 1,757 #3,534
1999 modern 1,756 #3,559
2000 modern 1,753 #3,547
2001 modern 1,709 #3,565
2002 modern 1,729 #3,604
2003 modern 1,721 #3,543
2004 modern 1,690 #3,599
2005 modern 1,621 #3,694
2006 modern 1,596 #3,748
2007 modern 1,602 #3,767
2008 modern 1,605 #3,783
2009 modern 1,665 #3,754
2010 modern 1,659 #3,840
2011 modern 1,617 #3,881
2012 modern 1,610 #3,828
2013 modern 1,646 #3,817
2014 modern 1,658 #3,814
2015 modern 1,637 #3,820
2016 modern 1,609 #3,866

Geography

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Where Pengellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Talland (incl. Looe Island), St Martin and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and South Hams. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Talland (incl. Looe Island) Cornwall
3 St Martin Cornwall
4 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
5 South Hams 010 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pengelly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pengelly

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pengelly, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pengelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pengelly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pengelly is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pengelly is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pengelly 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 Pengelly 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 Pengelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pengelly

The surname Pengelly has its origins in Cornwall, a county in the southwestern part of England. This name is believed to have derived from the Cornish place name "Pengelly," which translates to "head or end of the grove or wood." The earliest recorded mention of this surname dates back to the 16th century.

Pengelly is a distinctly Cornish name, with its roots firmly planted in the rural landscapes and villages of this picturesque region. The name's connection to a place name suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been residents or landowners in an area known as Pengelly.

While the Pengelly surname does not appear in the famous Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are references to this name in other historical records from Cornwall.

One notable bearer of the Pengelly surname was John Pengelly (1799-1889), a renowned Cornish geologist and fossil collector. His extensive collection of fossils and minerals is housed at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Another prominent figure was William Pengelly (1812-1894), a geologist and archaeologist who conducted excavations at Kent's Cavern in Torquay, making significant contributions to the understanding of prehistoric human remains and artifacts.

In the realm of literature, Thomas Pengelly (1675-1730) was a Cornish poet and writer known for his work "A Cornish Poem of The Antiquity of Tin in Cornwall." This work shed light on the rich mining heritage of Cornwall and the importance of tin in the region's history.

Moving into the realm of sports, Richard Pengelly (1885-1957) was a notable English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century. He was a talented all-rounder and played a pivotal role in the team's success during his career.

Another individual with the Pengelly surname who left a lasting impact was William Pengelly (1849-1924), a Cornish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in the region, including the iconic Truro Cathedral, which remains a architectural landmark in Cornwall.

The Pengelly surname has a long and rich history deeply intertwined with the cultural and geographic landscape of Cornwall. While its origins can be traced back to a specific place name, the name has since been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from science and literature to sports and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pengelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pengelly 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 537 Pengellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.02x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 537 38.02x
Devon 458 17.64x
Middlesex 63 0.50x
Glamorgan 56 2.58x
Lancashire 22 0.15x
Surrey 15 0.25x
Sussex 15 0.71x
Gloucestershire 12 0.49x
Channel Islands 11 2.98x
Kent 11 0.26x
Hampshire 10 0.39x
Hertfordshire 10 1.16x
Royal Navy 9 6.05x
Lanarkshire 7 0.17x
Monmouthshire 7 0.78x
Norfolk 7 0.36x
Warwickshire 7 0.22x
Suffolk 6 0.39x
Durham 3 0.08x
Staffordshire 3 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.12x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Looe in Cornwall leads with 87 Pengellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1518.32x.

Place Total Index
East Looe 87 1518.32x
Plymouth St Andrew 60 29.99x
Stoke Damerel 45 24.76x
Calstock 43 155.23x
Plymouth Charles The 41 35.84x
Madron Penzance 33 64.25x
Madron 32 280.46x
Redruth 29 72.57x
St Budeaux 26 321.78x
West Looe 25 672.04x
East Stonehouse 24 46.91x
Swansea Town 23 12.91x
St Cleer 21 171.43x
Camborne 20 34.36x
Exeter St Sidwell 20 33.62x
Feock 19 214.93x
Kea 18 170.94x
Tamerton Foliott 17 340.00x
St Keyne 16 2285.71x
Kenwyn 14 37.90x
Liskeard 14 59.25x
Sancreed 14 350.00x
Walkhampton 13 522.09x
Roath 11 11.15x
Blisland 10 421.94x
Bridestow 10 363.64x
St Peter Port 10 14.62x
Totnes 10 65.83x
Cheshunt 9 29.94x
Compton Gifford 9 110.57x
Kensington London 9 1.30x
Marystow 9 538.92x
Minster In Sheppey 9 12.76x
Penarth 9 42.39x
Ringmore 9 841.12x
Royal Navy 9 7.08x
Sheviock 9 376.57x
St Keverne 9 115.68x
St Pancras London 9 0.90x
Illogan 8 21.39x
Kenn 8 198.02x
Littlehampton 8 47.65x
Todmorden Walsden 8 20.17x
Battersea 7 1.52x
Brixton 7 238.91x
Christchurch 7 25.09x
Duloe 7 169.08x
Govan 7 0.70x
Lamerton 7 141.70x
Lewtrenchard 7 530.30x
Morval 7 242.21x
Thrushelton 7 384.62x
Willesden 7 5.95x
Ystradyfodwg 7 3.67x
Aveton Gifford 6 159.57x
Barnstaple 6 14.72x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.11x
Botus Fleming 6 652.17x
Callington 6 72.90x
Hammersmith London 6 1.95x
Lansallos 6 196.08x
Lanteglos 6 91.88x
Okehampton 6 61.29x
Stoke Climsland 6 66.52x
Stonehouse East 6 45.52x
Tavistock 6 20.28x
Tormoham 6 5.46x
Tywardreath 6 66.15x
West Tytherley 6 329.67x
Bodmin 5 21.40x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 4.25x
Bratton Clovelly 5 194.55x
Broadwater 5 10.36x
Camberwell 5 0.63x
Dawlish 5 25.81x
Heigham 5 4.86x
Plympton St Mary 5 33.31x
St Minver 5 116.28x
Stowford 5 299.40x
Whitchurch 5 109.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 106
Elizabeth 63
Emma 29
Jane 27
Ann 24
Eliza 20
Annie 18
Ellen 17
Emily 16
Susan 15
Sarah 14
Bessie 13
Edith 12
Harriet 10
Grace 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Caroline 8
Florence 8
Alice 7
Anna 7
Fanny 7
Hannah 7
Lucy 7
Maud 7
Charlotte 6
Jessie 6
Louisa 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Ethel 5
Laura 5
Ada 4
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Julia 4
Rebecca 4
Catherine 3
Frances 3
Hester 3
Katie 3
Lydia 3
Mabel 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Selina 3
Celia 2
Christina 2
Clara 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 108
John 99
James 45
Thomas 44
Richard 40
George 26
Charles 25
Henry 25
Edward 16
Alfred 15
Samuel 13
Robert 12
Frederick 9
Albert 8
Ernest 8
Joseph 8
Alexander 7
Edwin 7
Benjamin 6
Francis 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edmund 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Nicholas 2
Phillip 2
Roger 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Ambrose 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Freder 1
Geo. 1
Geo.G. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Lewis 1
Llewellyn 1
Louis 1
Maria 1
Michael 1
Mossey 1
Oliver 1
Wm.T.C. 1

FAQ

Pengelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pengelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,264 people were recorded with the Pengelly surname. That placed it at #3,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pengelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,609 in 2016. That gives Pengelly a modern rank of #3,866.

What does the Pengelly surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the place name Pengelly in Cornwall, England.

What does the Pengelly map show?

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