UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location with enclosures or pens.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Pennings surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Otley and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pennings is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.7%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pennings surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pennings 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 51 | #30,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 54 | #32,710 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 54 | #32,927 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 55 | #33,688 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 55 | #34,536 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 54 | #34,700 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Otley, Paddington, Wednesbury and Lambeth. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Otley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pennings 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 Pennings, 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 Pennings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pennings 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, Pennings 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 Pennings is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pennings, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PENNINGS is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "penning," which means a small coin or penny. This suggests that the name may have originated from someone who worked as a moneylender or a tax collector.
The earliest recorded instances of the PENNINGS surname can be found in the Dutch province of Friesland, particularly in the city of Leeuwarden, during the 14th century. The name was also prevalent in the neighboring provinces of Groningen and Drenthe.
One of the earliest known bearers of the PENNINGS surname was Auke Pennings, a merchant from Leeuwarden who was mentioned in a trade document dated 1382. Another notable figure was Pieter Pennings, a wealthy landowner from the village of Uithuizen, who lived in the late 15th century.
In the 16th century, the PENNINGS name appeared in several historical records, including the Dutch Reformation archives. During this period, Hendrik Pennings (1524-1589) was a prominent Protestant minister who played a significant role in the spread of Calvinism in the Netherlands.
As the Dutch began to explore and colonize other parts of the world, the PENNINGS surname traveled with them. In the 17th century, Johannes Pennings (1620-1675) was a Dutch settler in New Netherland, the Dutch colony that later became New York.
During the 18th century, the PENNINGS surname gained prominence in the field of arts and literature. Jan Pennings (1735-1801) was a renowned Dutch painter known for his landscape paintings, while Cornelis Pennings (1768-1823) was a celebrated poet and writer from Rotterdam.
As the PENNINGS family spread across the Netherlands and beyond, the surname underwent some variations in spelling, such as Penninx, Penninck, and Penningh. However, the core meaning and origin remained the same.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have carried the PENNINGS surname, including Hendrick Pennings (1815-1879), a Dutch architect who designed several iconic buildings in Amsterdam, and Hendrik Pennings (1863-1924), a Dutch politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pennings 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. Surrey leads with 18 Pennings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 18 | 9.97x |
| Staffordshire | 17 | 13.60x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.54x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 10 Pennings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.34x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rotherhithe | 10 | 218.34x |
| Wednesbury | 9 | 288.46x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 24.77x |
| Bilston | 6 | 247.93x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 34.19x |
| Walsall Foreign | 2 | 30.96x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 10.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pennings 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 Pennings 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 Pennings households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Bolt Forger | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Buckle Maker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Costume Maker (Millr) | 1 |
| Costume Manufacturer | 1 |
| Filer (Art) | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Iron Roller In Iron Wks | 1 |
| Miller (Corn) | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shopboy | 1 |
| Shopgirl | 1 |
| Wife Of Filer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Pennings surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Pennings a modern rank of #35,069.
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location with enclosures or pens.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pennings 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.