Find out how popular the last name Penigar is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Penigar.

Penigar, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Penigar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Penigar in America

Penigar is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Penigar surname appeared 163 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Penigar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Penigar to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Penigar

The surname Penigar has its origins in England, likely emerging sometime in the late medieval period or early modern era. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name, though the exact location from which it originated remains unclear.

One theory suggests that the name Penigar may have its roots in the Old English word "penig," which means "penny" or "small coin." This indicates a potential connection to an area or settlement where a toll or tax was collected, with the surname being bestowed upon those responsible for collecting such fees.

Another possibility is that the name Penigar is an anglicized version of a French or Norman surname, as many English surnames evolved from their French counterparts following the Norman Conquest of 1066. In this case, the name may have been derived from a place name in France or Normandy, though the specifics have been lost over time.

Early recordings of the surname Penigar are scarce, as record-keeping during the Middle Ages was often inconsistent and prone to variations in spelling. However, some historical references to the name can be found in certain manuscripts and documents from the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest known examples of the Penigar surname appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a certain John Penigar was recorded as a resident in 1582. Further mentions of the name can be found in the court rolls of Oxfordshire, where a William Penigar was listed as a landowner in the village of Kirtlington in 1619.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Penigar surname. One such person was Richard Penigar (1628-1703), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, who was known for his philanthropic efforts and support of local churches and charities.

Another figure of note was Elizabeth Penigar (1744-1821), a respected author and poet from Warwickshire, whose works were widely published and acclaimed during her lifetime. Her collection of poems, titled "Musings of the Heart," was particularly popular and earned her a reputation as one of the leading female writers of the 18th century.

In the realm of military service, Captain John Penigar (1785-1856) distinguished himself as a brave and skilled officer in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Waterloo, and was awarded several medals for his bravery and leadership.

Moving into the 19th century, the Penigar surname gained recognition in the field of medicine with Dr. William Penigar (1821-1894), a pioneering physician and researcher who made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of tuberculosis. His groundbreaking work helped pave the way for modern medical practices in the field of respiratory diseases.

Finally, one cannot overlook the artistic talent of Emily Penigar (1876-1959), a celebrated painter and sculptor from Yorkshire. Her works, which often depicted scenes of rural English life, were exhibited in numerous prestigious galleries and earned her widespread acclaim both within the United Kingdom and abroad.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Penigar

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Penigar.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Penigar was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Penigar has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Penigar was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Penigar, please contact us.

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