Penny
An English occupational surname referring to a moneylender or someone who changed or dealt in pennies or coins.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,894 Americans carry the last name Penny. That puts it at #3,485 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 28,817 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Penny 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
12K
1 in 28,817
Census rank
#3,485
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
10K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,249 bearers of the surname Penny in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3485th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Penny, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.4%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Penny
The surname Penny is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "penig," meaning a penny or small coin. This name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly during the 12th or 13th century, when surnames began to be adopted in England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Penny can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a William Peny. Another early reference is in the Lancashire Assize Rolls from 1285, where a Thomas Peny is mentioned.
The name Penny may have initially been an occupational name, referring to someone who worked as a moneylender, moneychanger, or coin maker. It could also have been a nickname for a wealthy individual or someone who frequently handled coins.
The Penny surname has been found in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Somerset. Some early bearers of the name include John Penny, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, and William Penny, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1379.
One notable historical figure with the surname Penny was Thomas Penny (c. 1530-1589), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and played a significant role in the theological debates of the Elizabethan era.
Another important person was Edward Penny (1714-1791), an English ironmaster and industrialist who established the Penny and Rea Ironworks in Birmingham, contributing to the industrial development of the region.
In the literary world, Edward Penny (1836-1923) was a British writer and journalist who authored several books, including "The Church in Madras" and "The Romance of the Heavens."
John Penny (1807-1868) was a British architect and civil engineer who designed notable buildings such as the Royal Holloway College in Egham, Surrey.
Finally, Thomas Penny (1837-1902) was a British politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull from 1885 to 1900.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Penny
Among Census respondents with the surname Penny, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.4%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Penny 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 Penny surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.9%
- Black or African American21.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Penny 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 | #3,485 | #3,485 | 0.0% |
| Count | 10,249 | 10,249 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.47 | 3.47 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Penny bearers went from 10,249 to 10,249 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,485 to #3,485.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Penny
FAQ
Penny surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Penny?
The surname Penny holds position #3,485 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,894 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Penny surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Penny, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.4%) and Hispanic (2.9%). 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.