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 Pfenning family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Pfenning Family History

Pfenning Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German pfenninc pfennic ‘penny’ a nickname applied with reference to tax obligations;

later it may have been a metonymic occupational name for a merchant dealing in penny wares.

Compare 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 Pfenning family from?

You can see how Pfenning families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pfenning family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Pfenning families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 4 Pfenning families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Pfenning's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Pfenning families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pfenning 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 Pfenning ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pfenning. 31% of Pfenning men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Pfenning women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pfenning were Machinist and Dressmaker.

View Census Data for Pfenning | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    31%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Proprietor
    8%
  • Machinist
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    18%
  • Housekeeper
    14%
  • Stenographer
    14%
  • Dressmaker
    14%

What Pfenning family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Pfenning. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pfenning census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pfenning

Passenger Lists

There are 550 immigration records available for the last name Pfenning. 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 Pfenning immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 914 military records available for the last name Pfenning. For the veterans among your Pfenning ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pfenning military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pfenning family history

Discover More

What is the average Pfenning lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Pfenning life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Pfenning in 1955 was 39, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pfenning

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

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