Surname Pennyfeather - Meaning and Origin
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Pennyfeather: What does the surname Pennyfeather mean?
The surname Pennyfeather is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It's an example of a type of surname that was a nickname based on a personal attribute or a peculiarity in physical appearance or mannerism. The name Pennyfeather was derived from the Old English words "penig", which means 'penny', and "fether", which means 'feather'.
The exact meaning or context of this nickname is unclear. However, it might have referred to a person who was considered as light as a feather in terms of, perhaps, triviality or insubstantiality, or someone who was valuable as a penny. Another interpretation could be someone who attaches a penny's worth of importance to a feather, which could suggest a pedantic, meticulous or overly careful person.
It's important to note that surnames in the past had much deeper cultural and societal connotations than they do today. An individual's last name was often linked to their profession, location, or personal characteristics, as seems to have been the case with Pennyfeather.
Order DNA origin analysisPennyfeather: Where does the name Pennyfeather come from?
The last name Pennyfeather is said to have originated from England, and it is still quite common in English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. According to some records, there were over 1,100 people in the United Kingdom with the last name Pennyfeather as of the year 2012. In the United States, there were over 900 people with the surname, with the greatest concentrations in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
Generally, Pennyfeathers can be found clustered in a few locations. There are people with the surname Pennyfeather living in the small towns of the English countryside, as well as thriving cities such as London. In the United States, a majority of Pennyfeathers are located in the Northeastern part of the country, though some are found in Texas, Florida, and other areas as well.
The Pennyfeathers that emigrated from England to the United States mainly settled in the states of Pennsylvania and Virginia, which were popular with English settlers; however, they also kept going westward into the Appalachian Mountains and the Midwest.
People with the Pennyfeather surname tend to remain close-knit, so they often get together at events like family reunions or other gatherings. The Pennyfeather surname is a reminder of their shared history, which is still felt today even though its origins are centuries old.
Variations of the surname Pennyfeather
The surname Pennyfeather is a variation on Pennyfather, which is derived from an Old English personal name, Pening, and the Old English word 'father.' The surname was originally found in East Anglia, where many variations of this surname originated.
Variations of this surname have included Pennefather, Pennifather, Pennyfather, Penifather, Pinfather, and Pinefeather. The Irish version of the name is Pennefette, while the Welsh version is Pennefedd, and the Scottish version is Pennefeather.
Variations in spelling of the surname Pennyfeather have included Peniefeuer, Pinifuer, Pinfuer, Pinfether, Pinfauter, Pinnifather, Pineiefeuer, Pinnefather, Pinfaither, and Pinfaithe. There are also some unusual variations such as Pinlefeather and Pennöltern.
Other surnames with similar origins to Pennyfeather include Pennell, Pennycook, Pennicotte, Penniston, Knoxpennyfeather, Pinerfeather, Pinneyfeather, and Pinefiefer. All of these surnames are derived from some form of the personal name Pening or a similar cognate, coupled with a word such as 'father' or 'feather,' to form compound surnames.
In conclusion, Pennyfeather is a variation of Pennyfather, and there are plenty of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. With over thirty variations in spelling, many of these surnames are still used by descendants today.
Famous people with the name Pennyfeather
- Brian Pennyfeather, British Member of Parliament (2005-2010)
- Fred Pennyfeather, Irish surname of comedian Johnny Vegas
- Virginia Pennyfeather, American actress
- Ernie Pennyfeather, British-born Canadian comedian and actor
- Jacob Pennyfeather, Canadian politician
- Laura Pennyfeather, English-born painter
- Edward Pennyfeather, British musical theatre director
- Paul Pennyfeather, British sound engineer
- Arthur Pennyfeather, English footballer
- Joseph Pennyfeather, American actor