NameCensus.

UK surname

Penny

An English occupational surname referring to a moneylender or someone who changed or dealt in pennies or coins.

In the 1881 census there were 5,312 people recorded with the Penny surname, ranking it #837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,318, ranked #1,066, down from #837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Broad Chalk and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Ellon West and Cruden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penny is 6,527 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.9%.

1881 census count

5,312

Ranked #837

Modern count

6,318

2016, ranked #1,066

Peak year

1999

6,527 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penny had 5,312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,318 in 2016, ranked #1,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,444 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Penny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penny surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penny 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 4,151 #690
1861 historical 3,776 #747
1881 historical 5,312 #837
1891 historical 5,623 #837
1901 historical 6,444 #861
1911 historical 6,267 #821
1997 modern 6,268 #1,048
1998 modern 6,476 #1,055
1999 modern 6,527 #1,054
2000 modern 6,500 #1,054
2001 modern 6,311 #1,057
2002 modern 6,438 #1,062
2003 modern 6,295 #1,060
2004 modern 6,300 #1,060
2005 modern 6,159 #1,066
2006 modern 6,162 #1,064
2007 modern 6,218 #1,063
2008 modern 6,291 #1,054
2009 modern 6,413 #1,062
2010 modern 6,511 #1,063
2011 modern 6,471 #1,054
2012 modern 6,252 #1,071
2013 modern 6,398 #1,070
2014 modern 6,427 #1,067
2015 modern 6,356 #1,064
2016 modern 6,318 #1,066

Geography

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Where Pennys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Broad Chalk, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Ellon West, Cruden, Mole Valley and New Forest. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Broad Chalk Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
2 Ellon West Aberdeenshire
3 Cruden Aberdeenshire
4 Mole Valley 003 Mole Valley
5 New Forest 001 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penny

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Penny is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Penny is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penny falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Penny

The surname Penny is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "penig," meaning a penny or small coin. This name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly during the 12th or 13th century, when surnames began to be adopted in England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Penny can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a William Peny. Another early reference is in the Lancashire Assize Rolls from 1285, where a Thomas Peny is mentioned.

The name Penny may have initially been an occupational name, referring to someone who worked as a moneylender, moneychanger, or coin maker. It could also have been a nickname for a wealthy individual or someone who frequently handled coins.

The Penny surname has been found in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Somerset. Some early bearers of the name include John Penny, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, and William Penny, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1379.

One notable historical figure with the surname Penny was Thomas Penny (c. 1530-1589), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and played a significant role in the theological debates of the Elizabethan era.

Another important person was Edward Penny (1714-1791), an English ironmaster and industrialist who established the Penny and Rea Ironworks in Birmingham, contributing to the industrial development of the region.

In the literary world, Edward Penny (1836-1923) was a British writer and journalist who authored several books, including "The Church in Madras" and "The Romance of the Heavens."

John Penny (1807-1868) was a British architect and civil engineer who designed notable buildings such as the Royal Holloway College in Egham, Surrey.

Finally, Thomas Penny (1837-1902) was a British politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull from 1885 to 1900.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Penny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penny 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. Somerset leads with 563 Pennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.73x.

County Total Index
Somerset 563 6.73x
Middlesex 550 1.06x
Wiltshire 434 9.44x
Hampshire 406 3.81x
Lancashire 394 0.64x
Yorkshire 288 0.56x
Surrey 279 1.10x
Kent 238 1.34x
Aberdeenshire 229 4.76x
Cheshire 205 1.79x
Devon 188 1.74x
Dorset 161 4.72x
Staffordshire 104 0.59x
Gloucestershire 103 1.01x
Worcestershire 103 1.52x
Cornwall 85 1.44x
Warwickshire 67 0.51x
Angus 59 1.23x
Perthshire 55 2.36x
Hertfordshire 51 1.42x
Shropshire 48 1.07x
Leicestershire 45 0.78x
Essex 44 0.43x
Glamorgan 43 0.48x
Sussex 43 0.49x
Lincolnshire 38 0.46x
Berkshire 32 0.82x
Berwickshire 31 4.92x
Lanarkshire 30 0.18x
Fife 27 0.88x
Banffshire 25 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 25 0.36x
Norfolk 24 0.30x
Derbyshire 22 0.27x
Northamptonshire 22 0.45x
Cumberland 21 0.47x
Channel Islands 18 1.17x
Monmouthshire 18 0.48x
Oxfordshire 18 0.56x
Suffolk 18 0.28x
Stirlingshire 16 0.83x
Clackmannanshire 14 3.26x
Merionethshire 14 1.47x
Brecknockshire 11 1.06x
Midlothian 11 0.16x
Herefordshire 10 0.47x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 1.33x
Northumberland 10 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 8 0.57x
Nairnshire 8 5.04x
Renfrewshire 8 0.20x
Durham 7 0.05x
Royal Navy 7 1.13x
Bedfordshire 6 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.35x
Radnorshire 3 0.72x
Selkirkshire 3 0.64x
Westmorland 3 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.17x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
Ross-shire 1 0.07x
Sutherland 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 67 Pennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.00x.

Place Total Index
Southampton St Mary 67 10.00x
Leeds 60 2.06x
Islington London 59 1.17x
Paddington London 54 2.83x
St Pancras London 51 1.22x
Broad Chalk 44 336.91x
Lambeth 43 0.95x
Fraserburgh 42 30.99x
Hackney London 41 1.41x
Yeovil 38 22.35x
Sherborne 37 36.82x
Camberwell 36 1.08x
Deptford St Paul 36 2.63x
Portsea 36 1.72x
Colton 33 102.64x
Clitheroe 32 17.63x
Stanton Drew 32 391.68x
Millbrook 31 11.55x
Newington 31 1.61x
Chelsea London 30 1.92x
Old Deer 29 31.79x
Yeadon 29 24.93x
Battersea 28 1.46x
Bradford On Avon 27 18.34x
Greenwich 27 3.26x
Redbourn 27 68.97x
Shoreditch London 27 1.20x
Teffont Evias 27 1255.81x
Birmingham 25 0.57x
Dundee 25 1.39x
Frome 25 12.49x
Shepton Mallet 25 26.63x
Southampton All Sts 25 13.67x
Bishopstone 24 109.49x
Walcot 24 5.39x
Chilmark 23 233.27x
Salford 23 1.27x
Everton 22 1.12x
Gillingham 22 6.02x
Hyde 22 6.50x
Mile End Old Town 22 2.68x
Bermondsey 21 1.36x
Longside 21 36.53x
Ludlow St Lawrence 21 23.50x
Taunton St Mary 21 13.67x
Crewkerne 20 22.51x
Stockport 20 3.39x
West Ham 20 0.88x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 20 19.58x
Hordle 19 102.48x
Liskeard 19 19.30x
Liverpool 19 0.51x
Manchester 19 0.68x
Aston 18 0.50x
Bradford 18 1.44x
Bromley London 18 1.57x
St George Hanover 18 2.65x
Bosden 17 48.28x
Bramhall 17 35.77x
Cruden 17 27.42x
Eling 17 15.75x
Kensington London 17 0.59x
Lewisham 17 1.80x
Milborne Port 17 50.76x
Monks Coppenhall 17 3.93x
St Marylebone London 17 0.61x
Udny 17 58.26x
Barton Upon Irwell 16 3.45x
Bethnal Green London 16 0.71x
Bishops Fonthill 16 458.45x
Croydon 16 1.14x
East Allington 16 171.67x
Leicester St Margaret 16 1.14x
Snodland 16 31.82x
St Mary Extra 16 18.66x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 0.86x
Teffont Magna 16 310.08x
Wellow 16 65.01x
Ashton On Mersey 15 25.28x
Micheldever 15 80.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 289
Elizabeth 218
Sarah 149
Ellen 102
Ann 98
Jane 97
Emma 79
Alice 75
Eliza 71
Annie 66
Emily 56
Martha 52
Louisa 43
Hannah 41
Charlotte 36
Fanny 33
Maria 32
Harriet 31
Edith 30
Caroline 28
Kate 25
Lucy 25
Margaret 25
Amelia 23
Anne 23
Florence 23
Agnes 22
Susan 22
Harriett 21
Ada 18
Bessie 15
Matilda 15
Anna 14
Catherine 14
Frances 14
Rose 14
Clara 13
Beatrice 12
Elizth. 12
Rebecca 12
Eleanor 11
Jessie 11
Ethel 10
Gertrude 9
Helen 9
Isabella 9
Susannah 9
Amy 8
Bertha 8
Julia 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 285
John 248
George 187
James 157
Thomas 142
Henry 126
Charles 109
Joseph 77
Edward 65
Alfred 61
Arthur 59
Samuel 54
Frederick 53
Albert 43
Richard 41
Robert 39
Frank 37
Walter 37
Harry 32
Herbert 29
Ernest 17
Edwin 16
Fred 16
Benjamin 15
Francis 15
Sidney 14
Edmund 12
Stephen 12
Wm. 10
David 9
Fredk. 9
Isaac 9
Daniel 8
Silas 7
Thos. 7
Chas. 6
Fredrick 6
Andrew 5
Geo. 5
Jesse 5
Sydney 5
Tom 5
Willm. 5
Abraham 4
Christopher 4
Frederic 4
Mark 4
Oliver 4
Percy 4
Reginald 4

FAQ

Penny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,312 people were recorded with the Penny surname. That placed it at #837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,318 in 2016. That gives Penny a modern rank of #1,066.

What does the Penny surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a moneylender or someone who changed or dealt in pennies or coins.

What does the Penny map show?

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