Surname Pinney - Meaning and Origin

Pinney: What does the surname Pinney mean?

The surname Pinney is of English origin and its first recorded use dates back to the middle ages. The exact meaning of the surname is not certain as it could be derived from a variety of sources.

One popular theory suggests that it could be a locational surname deriving from places named Pinney in Dorset or Devon in England. In this case, the name would mean "someone from Pinney."

Alternatively, it could also be derived from an old English personal name, Pynna. So "Pinney" would mean "descendant of Pynna" or "son of Pynna".

Another theory suggests it could be an occupational surname for a person who worked with pins or a maker of pins, the pin being a very important fastener in the period.

Like with many surnames, the precise origin can be difficult to trace due to the way names have evolved and changed over centuries, not to mention the variations in spelling. However, the common underlying theme in all potential meanings of Pinney is a sense of belonging, either to a place, a job or a person.

Pinney: Where does the name Pinney come from?

The last name Pinney is most common in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, the last name Pinney is most prevalent in the Southern US. In particular, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee have a high concentration of people with the last name Pinney. The last name is also fairly common in the Northeast and Midwest and less common in the rest of the country. Other countries with noteworthy concentrations of people with the last name Pinney include Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

Pinney is a name of French origin. As a result, it is a common name in French-speaking regions of the world, such as Quebec in Canada. The Pinney family began migrating to the US in the late 1700s and early 1800s and settled mainly in the south. The Pinney family has since spread across the country, with some branches settling in other countries.

The Pinney family has a proud history, and its members have made their mark in various industries, especially in business, finance, government, and the military. The Pinney family continues to grow and thrive in the US and abroad.

Variations of the surname Pinney

The surname Pinney has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The variant spellings for Pinney are Penney, Pennie, Penni, Pinni, and Pennye. This name is sometimes seen as a personal name, Pen Fermon, in the early period of history and is from the Old French words "pe(n)ne" meaning "feather" and "ferme" meaning "firm" that are combined in some way to make a surname. This is a type of occupational name that referred to someone who made quill pens or feathers, a highly specialized craft.

The modern surnames of Pinney and its variants derive from the medieval given name Peter, a common Medieval English personal name that derived from the Latin name Petrus, meaning "rock." This derivative received the patronymic prefix "Pen-" and was combined with the suffix "-ey" to form the surname Penney.

The variant spelling of Pennie is from the nickname for the given name Pen, as well as essence of the pre 6th century English name Penda, given to one who ventured outwardly from the boundaries of society. This particular variation is now found mainly in Scotland and the northern counties of England.

The surname Pinni is derived from the Scandinavian personal name Pinni and is often seen as a locational name derived from any of the several places called Penny in Bavaria and Bohemia.

Pennye is derived from the Old French personal name Pennye. This particular variant is mostly found in Scotland, as the name was brought to Scotland by immigrants from France during the Middle Ages.

All of these surnames are of the same origin but with slight differences in spelling. With the many variant spellings, this surname is thought to have acquired several different roots.

Famous people with the name Pinney

• Matt Pinney: Former CEO of Breamer Inc., an online marketing and media company.
• Michael Pinney: American actor best known for his roles on Boston Legal and Law & Order.
• Kelly Pinney: Canadian actress known for her roles in The 100, The X-Files, and Supernatural.
• William Pinney: 19th-century English portrait artist.
• Henry Pinney: English astronomer who worked on the Royal Observatory.
• John Pinney: American entrepreneur who founded the Pinney Insurance Agency.
• Henry Pinney: Utah District Judge who served in the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
• Caroline Pinney: Award-winning American novelist and poet.
• Kate Pinney: British-American actress, best known for her roles in King Lear and The Sisterhood of Night.
• Bob Pinney: American cartoonist and illustrator.
• Ted Pinney: American professional wrestler and promoter.
• Scott Pinney: Former NFL player who played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Edward Pinney: British illustrator and cartoonist active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Tony Pinney: British athlete who won the gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles in the 1972 Olympic Games.
• Elan Pinney: American artist and philosopher, best known for his landscape and mural work.
• Beth Pinney: American actress, best known for her roles in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Day After Tomorrow.

Other surnames

Pinnell