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

Penrod, 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 Penrod surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Penrod in America

Penrod is the 5095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Penrod surname appeared 6,867 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Penrod.

We can also compare 2010 data for Penrod 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 Penrod

The surname Penrod is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a combination of two Old English words, "pen" meaning a pen or enclosure, and "rod" meaning a clearing or land. This suggests that the name could have initially referred to someone who lived near a fenced or enclosed clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Penrod can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Penrode." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Roger de Penrode in Staffordshire, England, indicating the name's association with that region. During the same time period, a John Penrod is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire, further solidifying the name's English origins.

The name Penrod has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Penrith in Cumbria and Penshurst in Kent. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

One notable figure bearing the Penrod name was Sir Thomas Penrod (1510-1580), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the development of trade relations between England and the Iberian Peninsula.

Another individual of historical importance was John Penrod (1670-1745), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects and was known for his sermons.

In the 19th century, Charles Penrod (1820-1895) was a prominent American businessman and industrialist. He founded the Penrod Manufacturing Company, which produced agricultural equipment and machinery.

The name Penrod also gained literary recognition through the works of Booth Tarkington, an American novelist and playwright. His popular series of novels, including "Penrod" (1914) and "Penrod and Sam" (1916), featured a young protagonist named Penrod Schofield, cementing the name's place in literature.

Additionally, Reuben Penrod (1865-1933) was a notable American politician who served as a Congressman from Pennsylvania in the early 20th century, further contributing to the recognition of the Penrod name in public life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Penrod

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

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

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

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