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

Penning, 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 Penning surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Penning in America

Penning is the 16250th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Penning surname appeared 1,776 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Penning.

We can also compare 2010 data for Penning 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 Penning

The surname PENNING is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name derived from the Old English word "pening," which referred to a small area or enclosure. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or owned such an enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1204, where a person named Richard Penning is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the early 13th century.

The PENNING surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Penning in Oxfordshire and Penninghall in Norfolk. These place names likely contributed to the formation of the surname as people migrated from these areas and adopted the name as a means of identification.

In the 14th century, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John de Penning, indicating the use of the surname in that region during that time period. The prefix "de" suggests a connection to a specific location or estate.

One notable bearer of the PENNING surname was Sir John Penning (c. 1520-1589), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another figure of historical significance was William Penning (1625-1706), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects, including the construction of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

In the literary realm, Thomas Penning (1774-1841) was an English poet and writer who published works such as "The Pilgrimage to Canterbury" and "The Farmer's Boy."

The PENNING surname has also been associated with notable individuals in other fields, such as Sir William Penning (1838-1920), a British naval officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet during World War I.

Additionally, James Penning (1880-1946) was an American architect responsible for designing several prominent buildings in New York City, including the Empire State Building.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing the PENNING surname throughout history, solidifying its place as a significant English surname with a rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Penning

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

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

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

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