NameCensus.

UK surname

Penwarden

An English surname referring to a keeper or warden of an enclosure for animals.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Penwarden surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, down from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutcombe, Pancrassweek, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nottingham, East Devon and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penwarden is 351 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.2%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

1911

351 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penwarden had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 351 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Penwarden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penwarden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penwarden 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 298 #11,167
1901 historical 303 #11,569
1911 historical 351 #10,243
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 245 #16,012
2000 modern 243 #16,053
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 242 #15,987
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 236 #16,617
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 231 #17,530
2012 modern 233 #17,339
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Penwardens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutcombe, Pancrassweek, London parishes, St Pancras, Stratton and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nottingham, East Devon, Cornwall, Poole and Sutton. 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 Sutcombe, Pancrassweek Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Stratton Cornwall
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nottingham 006 Nottingham
2 East Devon 004 East Devon
3 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
4 Poole 010 Poole
5 Sutton 025 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penwarden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penwarden

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Penwarden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Penwarden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Penwarden 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

Penwarden is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penwarden 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 Penwarden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Penwarden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Penwarden

The surname Penwarden is of English origin, likely originating in the county of Cornwall during the medieval period. It is derived from the Cornish place name "Pen-wardhen," which translates to "hill on the green" or "top of the hill." This place name was likely referring to a specific geographic location in Cornwall where the name originated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Penwarden can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall in 1327, where a Robert Penwarden is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Cornwall by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records related to land ownership and taxation in Cornwall. For instance, a John Penwarden is mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524 as a landowner in the parish of St. Buryan.

During the 17th century, the Penwarden family seemed to have gained some prominence in the region. In 1620, a Richard Penwarden was appointed as the Rector of the parish of St. Levan in Cornwall, a position he held until his death in 1659.

One notable member of the Penwarden family was John Penwarden (1645-1719), a Cornish antiquarian and writer who published works on the history and antiquities of Cornwall. His most famous work was "A Collection of Antiquities relating to the County of Cornwall" published in 1699.

Another individual with the surname Penwarden who gained recognition was William Penwarden (1722-1808), a prominent lawyer and landowner from Cornwall. He served as the High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1773 and was known for his extensive collection of manuscripts and rare books.

In the 19th century, the Penwarden name continued to be associated with Cornwall. Thomas Penwarden (1801-1879) was a notable Cornish chemist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the study of Cornish minerals and mining.

While the Penwarden surname is still found in Cornwall today, it is relatively uncommon outside of the region, reflecting its strong historical ties to the county and its origins as a locational surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Penwarden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penwarden 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 95 Penwardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.17x.

County Total Index
Devon 95 20.17x
Cornwall 59 23.03x
Surrey 21 1.90x
Middlesex 19 0.84x
Gloucestershire 10 2.25x
Somerset 8 2.20x
Cheshire 5 1.00x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Hampshire 4 0.86x
Sussex 2 0.52x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.59x
Westmorland 1 2.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holsworthy in Devon leads with 18 Penwardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1353.38x.

Place Total Index
Holsworthy 18 1353.38x
Liskeard 17 396.27x
Pancrasweek 17 6800.00x
Stratton 15 1079.14x
St Pancras London 13 7.14x
Lambeth 12 6.08x
Exeter St Sidwell 9 83.41x
Clawton 8 2352.94x
Newington 8 9.57x
Lifton 7 619.47x
Pyworthy 7 1794.87x
Newent 6 265.49x
Stoke Damerel 6 18.20x
Cookbury 5 3571.43x
St Kew 5 588.24x
St Mabyn 5 1282.05x
Taunton St James 5 94.16x
Tranmere 5 27.23x
Whitstone 5 1562.50x
Alton 4 114.29x
Probus 4 380.95x
North Tawton 3 206.90x
Bathwick 2 49.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 4.79x
East Stonehouse 2 21.55x
Great Little Marsden 2 16.26x
Hampton London 2 53.76x
New Shoreham 2 87.34x
Pendleton In Salford 2 6.25x
Plymouth Charles The 2 9.64x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 5.51x
Shaugh Prior 2 370.37x
St Dominick 2 312.50x
St Stephen 2 219.78x
Thornbury 2 833.33x
Blackburn 1 1.40x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 6.76x
Budock 1 51.81x
Catterick 1 200.00x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.87x
Hunslet 1 2.86x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Lewannick 1 200.00x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.80x
Milton Abbott 1 147.06x
Newton St Cyres 1 151.52x
Poughill 1 322.58x
Reading St Giles 1 6.00x
Saltash 1 50.25x
Shebbear 1 140.85x
St Marylebone London 1 0.83x
Tandridge 1 212.77x
Tavistock 1 18.62x
Undermilbeck 1 60.98x
Washfield 1 322.58x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.65x
Wiveliscombe 1 49.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 18
Mary 15
Ann 6
Sarah 5
Annie 3
Grace 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Cecelia 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Chrislenna 1
Edah 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emmly 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertude 1
Honoria 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Mry. 1
Nancy 1
Norah 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 17
James 10
Thomas 7
Samuel 6
Francis 5
Charles 4
George 4
Richard 4
David 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Arthr. 1
Arthur 1
Azarias 1
Edmund 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Richd 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Penwarden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penwarden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Penwarden surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penwarden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Penwarden a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Penwarden surname mean?

An English surname referring to a keeper or warden of an enclosure for animals.

What does the Penwarden map show?

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