NameCensus.

UK surname

Penning

A surname derived from the Dutch word "penning," meaning a coin or small amount of money.

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Penning surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, down from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and Haddenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Fenland and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penning is 266 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.2%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

2002

266 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penning had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 233 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Penning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penning surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Penning 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 204 #14,702
1901 historical 198 #15,213
1911 historical 233 #13,560
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 265 #15,087
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 254 #15,578
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 266 #15,156
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 255 #15,504
2005 modern 240 #16,092
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 236 #16,736
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 247 #16,931
2011 modern 247 #16,783
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

Back to top

Where Pennings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, Haddenham and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Fenland, Cornwall, Crawley and Bury. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Haddenham Cambridgeshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 017 Central Bedfordshire
2 Fenland 001 Fenland
3 Cornwall 020 Cornwall
4 Crawley 002 Crawley
5 Bury 018 Bury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Penning

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Penning

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Penning surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Penning household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Penning 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

Penning is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penning falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Penning 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 Penning, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Penning

The surname PENNING is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name derived from the Old English word "pening," which referred to a small area or enclosure. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or owned such an enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1204, where a person named Richard Penning is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the early 13th century.

The PENNING surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Penning in Oxfordshire and Penninghall in Norfolk. These place names likely contributed to the formation of the surname as people migrated from these areas and adopted the name as a means of identification.

In the 14th century, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John de Penning, indicating the use of the surname in that region during that time period. The prefix "de" suggests a connection to a specific location or estate.

One notable bearer of the PENNING surname was Sir John Penning (c. 1520-1589), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another figure of historical significance was William Penning (1625-1706), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects, including the construction of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

In the literary realm, Thomas Penning (1774-1841) was an English poet and writer who published works such as "The Pilgrimage to Canterbury" and "The Farmer's Boy."

The PENNING surname has also been associated with notable individuals in other fields, such as Sir William Penning (1838-1920), a British naval officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet during World War I.

Additionally, James Penning (1880-1946) was an American architect responsible for designing several prominent buildings in New York City, including the Empire State Building.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing the PENNING surname throughout history, solidifying its place as a significant English surname with a rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Penning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penning 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. Surrey leads with 23 Pennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.

County Total Index
Surrey 23 3.93x
Hampshire 22 8.95x
Essex 21 8.87x
Middlesex 19 1.58x
Kent 11 2.69x
Cambridgeshire 9 11.84x
Staffordshire 6 1.48x
Yorkshire 4 0.34x
Sussex 3 1.48x
Berkshire 1 1.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.38x
Devon 1 0.40x
Stirlingshire 1 2.26x
Warwickshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 22 Pennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.64x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 22 45.64x
Saffron Walden 21 840.00x
Greenwich 10 52.36x
Croydon 9 27.74x
Paddington London 8 18.13x
Camberwell 7 9.13x
Horninglow 6 314.14x
Kensington London 5 7.50x
Lambeth 5 4.78x
Sheffield 4 10.57x
Chiswick 3 45.73x
Haddenham 3 422.54x
Stretham 3 555.56x
Westham 2 487.80x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.92x
Brighton 1 2.45x
Coventry St Michael 1 10.29x
Epsom 1 35.09x
Grangemouth 1 1666.67x
Hampstead London 1 5.35x
New Windsor 1 33.00x
Plymouth Charles The 1 9.09x
St Andrewthe Less 1 11.52x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 232.56x
Sutton 1 23.64x
Taplow 1 227.27x
Westminster St James 1 8.11x
Wisbech St Peter 1 26.25x
Woolwich 1 6.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Elizebeth 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Hester 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Marguerite 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Morgan 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Charles 5
Joseph 5
George 4
John 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Harry 2
James 2
Paul 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Algernon 1
Archer 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Grey 1
Hedley 1
Henry 1
Mark 1
Nicolas 1
Sydney 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Penning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Penning surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Penning a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Penning surname mean?

A surname derived from the Dutch word "penning," meaning a coin or small amount of money.

What does the Penning map show?

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