UK surname
A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Pennington in Lancashire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Penington surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #17,245 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Winwick and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penington is 475 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.9%.
1881 census count
126
Ranked #17,245
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1851
475 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Penington surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Penington surname density by area, 1881 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 | 475 | #5,239 |
| 1861 | historical | 206 | #11,725 |
| 1881 | historical | 126 | #17,245 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 78 | #25,013 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Winwick, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Wolfardisworthy. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wolfardisworthy | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Penington 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 Penington, 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 Penington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Penington 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, Penington 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 Penington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Penington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Penington originates from England, first appearing in records during the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pen" meaning "hill" and "inga" meaning "dwellers" or "people," suggesting that the name was initially used to describe people who lived on or near a particular hill.
One of the earliest known references to the Penington name can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, which mention a person named Robert de Penington. This record indicates that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the early 13th century.
The Penington surname is closely associated with the village of Pennington in Lancashire, England. This village likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographic location.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Penington was recorded as holding lands in Pennington, Lancashire. This association with landed gentry suggests that the Penington family had attained a certain level of social status and prominence during this period.
Throughout the centuries, several individuals bearing the Penington surname have left their mark on history. For instance, Isaac Penington (1616-1679) was a prominent Quaker writer and theologian, known for his works on spiritual matters and his advocacy for religious tolerance.
Another prominent figure was Edward Penington (1667-1711), an English poet and dramatist who wrote several plays and contributed to the development of English literature during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
In the field of science, Isaac Penington (1587-1661), an English mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of eclipses.
The Penington name has also been associated with military service, as evidenced by Sir John Penington (1660-1730), a British naval officer who participated in several important battles during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Lastly, William Penington (1771-1844) was a notable English surveyor and cartographer, known for his detailed maps and surveys of various regions in England and Wales.
While the Penington surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or established new communities over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penington 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. Lancashire leads with 57 Peningtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 57 | 3.94x |
| Cheshire | 12 | 4.46x |
| Durham | 12 | 3.31x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 0.99x |
| Devon | 8 | 3.15x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 4.76x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.41x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 2.62x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 2.85x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.65x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.72x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.24x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.17x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Standish With Langtree in Lancashire leads with 8 Peningtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 449.44x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Penington 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 Penington 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 Penington households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 25 |
| Coal Miner | 6 |
| Brick Makers Lab | 3 |
| Carter | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Joiner | 2 |
| Schoolmistress | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agrl Laborer | 1 |
| Boiler Scaler | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Butchers Daur | 1 |
| Car Driver (Cabman) | 1 |
| Carter & Publican | 1 |
| Cotton Speed Tenter | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Cleaner | 1 |
| Engineer Apprentice | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer 10 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Bro | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Keeper (Lodge) | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| Operative Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Police Sergeant | 1 |
| Police Sergeants Wife | 1 |
| Publicans Wife | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Retired Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Retired Lab | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| The Shop Assistant (Printer) | 1 |
| Timber Carter | 1 |
| Waiter (Inn) | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Penington surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Penington a modern rank of #36,760.
A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Pennington in Lancashire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Penington 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.