Surname Penley - Meaning and Origin

Penley: What does the surname Penley mean?

The surname Penley originally comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from two elements: "pen," which means "hill," and "leah," which means "wood" or "clearing." Thus, the original bearers of the name likely lived in or near a wooded hill. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of English surnames have undergone significant modifications. Variations of the name Penley include Penly, Pentley, Pentlow, and others. This name could have also been a locational surname which means it could have been given to the original bearer based on where they lived or where they came from. Today, people with the surname Penley can be found in many English-speaking countries, although it is not a very common surname. It’s important to note that surname meanings are not always exact; they were often applied broadly and may not apply to all individuals with the surname.

Penley: Where does the name Penley come from?

The surname Penley is most commonly found in areas in the United States. According to "surnameprofiler.org", Penley is most common in the Southeastern United States, primarily in states such as Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. It is also found in the Appalachian Mountains and Midwest regions of the country.

In addition to the United States, Penley is also found in certain Canadian provinces such as Ontario and Quebec. There is also some presence of the name in the United Kingdom, mainly in Scotland, Wales, Northern England and Northern Ireland.

The surname can also be found in other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and some parts of Europe including France, Spain and Portugal.

The earliest known records of the surname Penley are from Scotland, dated to the late 1400s. It is believed to be a variant of the surname Penhall, which is derived from the Old English word, “penhal”, meaning top of a hill or summit. The Penleys may have been settlers who moved to the region some time in the Middle Ages.

Penley is still a relatively common surname today, mainly due to the large number of descendants of settlers who emigrated from the United Kingdom. The locations of its greatest presence in the United States and Canada suggest that many Penleys originated from Scottish or Anglo-Saxon roots. However, it is possible that those who adopted the surname originally hailed from Ireland, France, or other countries in Europe.

Variations of the surname Penley

The surname Penley has several variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Penley itself is an Irish name originating from the Gaelic "Mac Pheadair", which translates to "son of Peter".

Variants of the name include Penly, Pennley and Pinley. Spellings such as Penleigh and Penleye are also seen, while other Irish derived variations include Penlee, Penlie and Penlye.

The surname Pinley can be found as an actual surname, as well as a variant of Penley. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Fhaelaigh", meaning "son of the man of valour".

In some cases, this surname has become Pennle or Penly. Other spelling variations of Pennle or Penly include Penlle, Penll, Pennel, Pinel, Pinnle and Pinel.

Penley can also be found as a middle name in certain parts of the United States. Penley is also one of the many occupational surnames that came about when people started to adopt their father's profession as their surname. Penley is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word "pen", referring to a person who is responsible for maintaining fences and other enclosures.

In Scotland, variants of Penley include McKenly, Penly and Pinelay. In the United States, Penley can be found as Pennelle, Penel, Penle and Pennel.

Famous people with the name Penley

• Matthew Penley: American actor.
• Christopher Penley: American actor.
• Jack Penley: American actor best known for his work in the film "Eight Legged Freaks".
• Gregory Penley: American former professional ice hockey player.
• Ellis Penley: American musician and singer-songwriter.
• George Penley: American painter and sculptor.
• Thomas B. Penley: American soldier, author, and "Woman of the War" award recipient.
• Jason Penley: American-born journalist, entrepreneur, and former media executive.
• John Penley: American photographer and activist in New York City.
• Bill Penley: American lawyer and judge who served as a justice on the Supreme Court of Nevada.
• John Penley: United States Army Soldier and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
• Bryan Penley: American college football coach.
• Robert Penley: American basketball player.
• William Penley: American doctor and politician.
• Anni Meredith Penley: American architect who worked in the Midwest for several decades.
• Barbara Penley: American actress and singer appearing in TV shows and movies.
• Lois Penley: American singer and songwriter who wrote for numerous Country-Western music singles.
• Tony Penley: American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist.
• David Penley: American evolutionary biologist and professor at the University of Kansas.
• Fran Penley: American actress and model best known for her appearances in "Little House on the Prairie" and other roles.

Other surnames

PaalPaalenPaalsPaandiPaapPaapePaaschPaaschePaaschenPaavilainenPabstPäbstPabstmannPabusPacaciPaceleyPacettiPacettyPachPachecoPachicoPachmannPachmayerPachmayrPachtelPachtellPachterPächterPacieccoPack