Surname Pinfold - Meaning and Origin

Pinfold: What does the surname Pinfold mean?

The surname Pinfold is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to medieval England. The name is occupational and was predominantly given to individuals who worked as pound keepers, responsible for impounding stray animals. Derived from the Old English words "pundfald," meaning "pound" and "fold," which refers to an enclosed space, Pinfold was the title for a walled or fenced area where stray animals were kept until they were claimed by their owners for a fee. Consequently, the name potentially indicated the profession of an ancestor. Variations of the surname include Pinfield, Pinnell, and Poundfool among others, all rooted in the same etymology and occupational significance. As with many English surnames, geographical dispersal over time and generations has resulted in the name appearing in different regions and countries around the world.

Pinfold: Where does the name Pinfold come from?

The surname Pinfold is not particularly common today. The name originates from English heritage and is believed to have first emerged in the late medieval period. It chiefly refers to a family from the Eastern English county of Norfolk. In modern times, the surname is found mostly in England and in countries where English people have emigrated, such as the United States, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

In the United Kingdom, the last name Pinfold is most common in the Norfolk area, followed by London and its surrounding counties. This is unsurprising since Norfolk is where the Pinfold surname originated. Outside of England, the States with the most Pinfold's tend to be areas that British immigrants settled, such as Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and California.

In the United States, the most populous towns with Pinfolds are Harrisburg in Pennsylvania and Bossier City in Louisiana. In Australia, the last name is found particularly in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. South Africa may have a slightly higher population of Pinfolds, due to the Immigration of British people in the 19th century. Most Pinfold's in New Zealand are located in Auckland and Wellington, both cities which many British immigrants moved to.

Overall, the last name Pinfold is sparse compared to other surnames around the world and tends to be mainly concentrated in countries with English heritage.

Variations of the surname Pinfold

The surname Pinfold is an English surname derived from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning ‘fold for trapping animals’ from the old English word ‘pin’ and ‘ foldan’ which means to ‘enclose’. There are different variants and spellings of the surname Pinfold depending on an individual’s country of origin. One of the possible variants includes Penfold.

In England, the most common variants and spellings of the name Pinfold are Pimflett, Penfold, Pinfield, Pinfold, Pinveld, Pinfielde, Pinfell, and Pinfill. Furthermore, less common variants include Pinfolt, Pinfild, Pinfyld, Penfolt, Penfyld, Pinvele, Pinveller, Penfoller, Penfild, and Pinnevelt.

The original versions of the name are Pinvele and Pimflett. The prefix ‘Pen(f)’ is typically attributed to the county of Sussex in England, with the county of Kent having the oldest record of the name - Pinvele. There are some families of Pinfolds who came from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. As well, some of the descendants of the Pinfolds originated from colonial America. There are also additional surname versions - Pennfold, Pinkfold, Pinfeild, Pincfold, Pynfold and Panfoldane.

The historic records of the Pinfold family show that they had a long heritage spread across many countries. Their surname has had many variations and spellings over time, but the most common spellings are Pinfold, Penfold, and Pimflett.

Famous people with the name Pinfold

• David Pinfold: Former Deputy Minister of Transport for the Canadian government
• Ed Pinfold: British actor
• Johnny Pinfold: Former British Frontbencher and Member of Parliament
• Mary Pinfold: British actress
• Mark Pinfold: British sculptor and artist
• Paul Pinfold: British Chef, restaurateur and author
• Rachael Pinfold: British Artist and Interior Designer
• William Pinfold: British Actor
• Bob Pinfold: British Photographer
• Tom Pinfold: British cyclist and Olympian
• Michael Pinfold: Former Professor of International Law and Director of Academic Law Library at the University of Sheffield

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