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

Pennant, 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 Pennant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pennant in America

Pennant is the 48901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pennant surname appeared 431 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 Pennant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pennant 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 Pennant

The surname PENNANT is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "penon," which referred to a small triangular flag or banner carried on a lance or spear. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who made or carried such banners, perhaps a military standard-bearer or a herald.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as "Pennon," "Penon," and "Pynon." One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which mentions a person named Robert Penon.

In the 14th century, the name PENNANT is documented in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a Richard Penon. The Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1346 also mention a John Pynon.

One notable figure bearing the PENNANT surname was Thomas Pennant, a renowned Welsh naturalist, traveler, and writer born in 1726. He is best known for his works on British zoology, including "British Zoology" (1766) and "Arctic Zoology" (1784-1787). Thomas Pennant played a significant role in the early study and documentation of British wildlife.

Another individual of note was William George Pennant, born in 1800, who was a British naval officer and served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1841 to 1849. He played a crucial role in establishing British sovereignty over the islands during a period of territorial disputes with Argentina.

In the 18th century, the name PENNANT was also associated with the Pennant family of Downing, Flintshire, a prominent Welsh landowning family. Notable members included Thomas Pennant (1693-1768), who served as the High Sheriff of Flintshire, and his son Richard Pennant (1737-1808), who was a politician and the Governor of the British East India Company's settlements in Bengal.

The PENNANT surname has also been linked to various place names in England and Wales, such as Pennant Melangell in Powys, Wales, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in certain regions.

Throughout history, the PENNANT surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including naturalists, military personnel, politicians, and landowners, reflecting the diverse origins and associations of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pennant

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

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 Pennant 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 Pennant 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 Pennant was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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