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 Penney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Penney Family History

Penney Surname Meaning

English: variant of Penny.

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 Penney family from?

You can see how Penney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Penney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Penney families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 279 Penney families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Penney's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Penney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Penney 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 Penney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Penney. 9% of Penney men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Penney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Penney were General Labourer Heavy Worker and Private Means.

View Census Data for Penney | 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

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Penney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 81,000 census records available for the last name Penney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Penney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Penney

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Penney. 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 Penney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Penney. For the veterans among your Penney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Penney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Penney family history

Discover More

What is the average Penney lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Penney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Penney in 1950 was 26, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Penney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Penney 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 Penney family tree

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