This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Pen family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Pen Family History

Pen Surname Meaning

English: variant of Penn. Dutch: metonymic occupational name for a clerk or penman from pen ‘pen’ or for a craftsman using pins from pen ‘pin’ (compare Pin).

Breton (mainly Le Pen): topographic name or nickname from penn ‘head’. Alternatively perhaps a cognate of French Payen (compare Pean).

Compare also Pene 2 and Penn 8. Slovenian: nickname or ethnic name of the same origin as German Böhm (see Boehm) meaning ‘Bohemian’ (i.e. ‘Czech’).

Alternatively from an old short form of the personal name Pernhart an old South German variant of Bernhard (see Bernard).

Cambodian: written ប៉ែន of Chinese origin (see Bin).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pen family from?

You can see how Pen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Pen families living in Lancashire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Pen's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Pen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Pen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Motor Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Pen. 100% of Pen men worked as a Motor Driver and 100% of Pen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Pen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Motor Driver
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Pen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Pen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pen

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Pen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Pen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Pen. For the veterans among your Pen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pen family history

Discover More

What is the average Pen lifespan?

Between 1975 and 2003, in the United States, Pen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1988, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Pen in 1975 was 58, and 75 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pen family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial