Penn
An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a hill, mountain, or enclosure.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 22,553 Americans carry the last name Penn. That puts it at #1,849 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.58 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,198 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Penn surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
23K
1 in 15,198
Census rank
#1,849
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 19,409 bearers of the surname Penn in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.58 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1849th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Penn, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.6%. The next largest groups are Black (38.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Penn
The surname Penn originated in England, deriving from the Old English word 'penn' meaning an enclosure or pen for animals. It was likely an occupational surname for someone who worked as a keeper of animals or managed such enclosures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Penn surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a historical record from 1086. The name appeared as 'Penne' in Somerset, referring to a landed person or landowner.
In the 13th century, records show instances of the surname Penn appearing in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. These early spellings included 'Penne', 'Penne', and 'Penne'.
The Penn surname is also closely associated with the town of Penn in Buckinghamshire, which likely derived its name from the same Old English word. Some early bearers of the surname may have hailed from or been associated with this location.
One notable individual with the Penn surname was William Penn (1644-1718), the English Quaker leader and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania in North America. He was an influential figure in the early colonial history of the United States.
Another historically significant bearer of the Penn surname was Sir William Penn (1621-1670), an English admiral and the father of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the naval wars between England and the Netherlands during the 17th century.
John Penn (1700-1746) was another member of the Penn family, serving as the proprietor of Pennsylvania from 1726 to 1746. He played a crucial role in the governance and development of the colony.
Thomas Penn (1702-1775) was the son of William Penn and also served as the proprietor of Pennsylvania from 1746 to 1775. He oversaw the colony's growth and development during a significant period of its history.
John Thomas Penn (1760-1834) was the last proprietor of Pennsylvania, inheriting the position from his father, Thomas Penn. He played a role in the transition of Pennsylvania from a colony to a state after the American Revolutionary War.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Penn
Among Census respondents with the surname Penn, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.6%. The next largest groups are Black (38.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Penn bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Penn surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White50.6%
- Black or African American38.5%
- Hispanic or Latino4.5%
- Two or more races3.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Penn surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,849 | #1,849 | 0.0% |
| Count | 19,409 | 19,409 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.58 | 6.58 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Penn bearers went from 19,409 to 19,409 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,849 to #1,849.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Penn
FAQ
Penn surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Penn?
The surname Penn holds position #1,849 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 22,553 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.58 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Penn surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Penn, the largest self-reported group is White at 50.6%. The next largest groups are Black (38.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.