NameCensus.

UK surname

Pengilly

An English surname derived from the Cornish place name "Pengelly" meaning "head of the grove".

In the 1881 census there were 300 people recorded with the Pengilly surname, ranking it #9,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 276, ranked #15,673, down from #9,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Feock and Ashburton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Bridgend and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pengilly is 353 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.0%.

1881 census count

300

Ranked #9,724

Modern count

276

2016, ranked #15,673

Peak year

1861

353 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pengilly had 300 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016, ranked #15,673.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 353 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pengilly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pengilly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pengilly 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 353 #7,242
1881 historical 300 #9,724
1891 historical 261 #12,337
1901 historical 221 #14,212
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 280 #14,630
2000 modern 273 #14,828
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 276 #14,604
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 260 #15,329
2007 modern 263 #15,366
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 278 #15,230
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 276 #15,673

Geography

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Where Pengillys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Feock, Ashburton, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Ruan Major, Grade. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Bridgend and Cornwall. 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 St Keverne Cornwall
2 Feock Cornwall
3 Ashburton Devon
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Ruan Major, Grade Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 005 Torridge
2 Torridge 004 Torridge
3 Bridgend 007 Bridgend
4 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
5 Torridge 008 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pengilly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pengilly

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pengilly, 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 Pengilly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pengilly 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pengilly is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pengilly 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pengilly

The surname Pengilly is of Cornish origin, derived from the Cornish place name "Pen-gelly," which translates to "head of the grove" or "top of the grove." This name is believed to have originated in the county of Cornwall, England, during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name is closely associated with the village of Pengilly, located near the town of Redruth in Cornwall. It is likely that the earliest bearers of this surname were residents of this village or nearby areas, taking their name from the place they lived or worked.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Pengilly can be found in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a certain John de Pengelly is listed as a taxpayer. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which recorded the names of individuals who took an oath of allegiance to the Protestant religion. Several individuals with the surname Pengilly are mentioned in these records.

Notable individuals with the surname Pengilly include William Pengilly (c. 1670-1730), a Cornish mathematician and astronomer who published several works on navigation and astronomy. Another prominent figure was Richard Pengilly (1759-1834), a Cornish clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious and historical topics.

Other individuals of note include John Pengilly (1784-1857), a Cornish mining engineer and surveyor who worked in various mines across Cornwall and Devon, and Thomas Pengilly (1805-1877), a Cornish artist known for his landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of Cornwall.

The name Pengilly also appears in connection with various place names in Cornwall, such as Pengilly Farm, Pengilly Croft, and Pengilly Barton, further emphasizing its Cornish roots and association with the region.

Throughout history, the surname Pengilly has remained primarily concentrated in Cornwall and the surrounding areas, reflecting its strong regional ties and origins. While the name is relatively uncommon outside of Cornwall, it continues to hold a significant place in the region's cultural and historical heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pengilly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pengilly 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. Devon leads with 149 Pengillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.46x.

County Total Index
Devon 149 24.46x
Cornwall 88 26.56x
Middlesex 26 0.89x
Yorkshire 12 0.41x
Berkshire 7 3.19x
Surrey 6 0.42x
Durham 4 0.46x
Cheshire 2 0.31x
Hampshire 2 0.33x
Glamorgan 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.31x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clovelly in Devon leads with 22 Pengillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2784.81x.

Place Total Index
Clovelly 22 2784.81x
St Keverne 15 824.18x
Ashburton 14 481.10x
Camborne 14 102.56x
Bigbury 12 2666.67x
Gwennap 11 176.00x
Hartland 11 578.95x
St Pancras London 10 4.25x
East Teignmouth 9 361.45x
Exeter Heavitree 9 198.24x
Eston 8 126.58x
Islington London 8 2.82x
Ruan Major 8 8888.89x
Sithney 8 238.81x
Burlescombe 7 843.37x
Uffculme 7 384.62x
Welcombe 7 3333.33x
East Budleigh 6 209.06x
Gulval 6 281.69x
Rotherhithe 6 16.59x
Stoke Damerel 6 14.07x
Tilehurst 6 135.14x
Breage 5 165.56x
Halberton 5 352.11x
St Agnes 5 107.76x
Swimbridge 5 406.50x
Tormoham 5 19.40x
Constantine 4 207.25x
South Shields 4 51.55x
Bradford 3 4.27x
St George Martyr 3 60.85x
West Alvington 3 348.84x
Wolborough 3 38.96x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 14.34x
Falmouth 2 17.05x
Grade 2 689.66x
Phillack 2 46.73x
St Marylebone London 2 1.28x
Stoke Newington London 2 8.78x
Armley 1 7.82x
Ashton 1 500.00x
Berry Pomeroy 1 99.01x
Bideford 1 15.31x
Caverswall 1 19.49x
Charleton 1 181.82x
Chester St John Baptist 1 8.61x
Ermington 1 45.05x
Fremington 1 80.65x
Great Torrington 1 28.99x
Greenham 1 90.91x
Helston 1 29.07x
Holbeton 1 89.29x
Humberstone 1 37.45x
Kensington London 1 0.61x
Kenwyn 1 11.55x
Liskeard 1 18.05x
Littleham 1 22.47x
Malborough 1 41.32x
Manaccan 1 277.78x
Modbury 1 64.10x
Northam 1 22.52x
Pitcombe 1 238.10x
Portsea 1 0.85x
Ringmore 1 400.00x
Roath 1 4.32x
Sampford Spiney 1 243.90x
Sheepwash 1 238.10x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.65x
St Martin In Meneage 1 250.00x
Tranmere 1 4.21x
Wendron 1 21.74x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Eliza 10
Annie 8
Jane 6
Emma 5
Ann 4
Susan 4
Emily 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Alice 1
Blanche 1
Celina 1
Charlotte 1
Cordelia 1
Deborah 1
E.Jane 1
Edith 1
Elizh.A. 1
Emla 1
Georgina 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
M.Ann 1
M.Grace 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Myra 1
Perthenia 1
Phillippa 1
Rebecca 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 19
James 12
Thomas 11
Charles 9
George 6
Alexander 5
Albert 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Ivor 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Reuben 1
Saml. 1
Simon 1
Theophilus 1
Thos. 1
Thos.I. 1
Tom 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Pengilly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pengilly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 300 people were recorded with the Pengilly surname. That placed it at #9,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pengilly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016. That gives Pengilly a modern rank of #15,673.

What does the Pengilly surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Cornish place name "Pengelly" meaning "head of the grove".

What does the Pengilly map show?

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