NameCensus.

UK surname

Penwright

An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired quills or pens.

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Penwright surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Bedford and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penwright is 105 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2004

105 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penwright had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 50 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Penwright surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penwright surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penwright 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 40 #31,174
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 50 #27,806
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Penwrights are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, Stafford, Inverness Scorguie and Wolverhampton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
2 Bedford 018 Bedford
3 Stafford 007 Stafford
4 Inverness Scorguie Highland
5 Wolverhampton 010 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penwright

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penwright

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Penwright surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Penwright household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Penwright is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Penwright is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Penwright 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 Penwright 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 Penwright, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Penwright

The surname PENWRIGHT has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "penne," meaning pen or enclosure, and "wrihta," which translates to a maker or worker. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who crafted or worked with pens or enclosures for livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PENWRIGHT can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire, where a Thomas Penwright was listed as a resident in 1587. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax records for Oxfordshire in 1662, indicating its presence in various parts of England during that time period.

The name PENWRIGHT has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 17th century, a Richard Penwright (1624-1689) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the local wool trade. Another individual, William Penwright (1745-1822), served as a captain in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery in several naval battles.

In the literary world, the name gained recognition through the works of the English novelist and playwright, Elizabeth Penwright (1798-1872). Her most notable work, "The Manor House Mysteries," was a popular gothic novel of its time and contributed to the development of the genre.

Moving into the 20th century, the name PENWRIGHT was carried by Sir Henry Penwright (1905-1987), a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to France from 1960 to 1965. He played a crucial role in strengthening the diplomatic relations between the two countries during a period of political tension.

While the PENWRIGHT surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing the name found in countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the English countryside and the trades and professions of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Penwright families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penwright 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. Bedfordshire leads with 21 Penwrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.71x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 21 138.71x
Yorkshire 4 1.38x
Nottinghamshire 2 5.07x
Hertfordshire 1 4.96x
Middlesex 1 0.34x
Northamptonshire 1 3.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Houghton Conquest in Bedfordshire leads with 8 Penwrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 13333.33x.

Place Total Index
Houghton Conquest 8 13333.33x
Shillington 6 2727.27x
Barnsley 3 100.33x
Blunham 3 3000.00x
Dunstable 2 425.53x
Abbots Langley 1 333.33x
Arnold 1 172.41x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 16.98x
Kempston 1 294.12x
Keyworth 1 1111.11x
St George Hanover 1 26.18x
Wellingborough 1 72.46x
Willington 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Ann 3
Emma 1
Jane 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1
Timperon 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
James 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

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 Penwright households.

FAQ

Penwright surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penwright surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Penwright surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penwright surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Penwright a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Penwright surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired quills or pens.

What does the Penwright map show?

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