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Pentland Family History

Pentland Name Meaning

Scottish (Midlothian): habitational name from Pentland (Midlothian) or perhaps from Pentlands in Adlingfleet (Yorkshire). The etymology of the Midlothian placename is uncertain. The Yorkshire placename appears to represent an early example of modern English pent ‘place where water is pent up reservoir enclosed pool’ + land.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Penland, Hetland, England, Scotland, Westland, Maitland, Ringland

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Where is the Pentland family from?

You can see how Pentland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pentland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pentland families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 44 Pentland families living in Ontario. This was about 38% of all the recorded Pentland's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Pentland families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pentland surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Pentland ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Pentland. 68% of Pentland men worked as a Farmer and 25% of Pentland women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pentland were Farmers Son and Bookkeeper. .

View Census Data for Pentland | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    68%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Labourer
    10%
  • Farmers Son
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Income
    25%
  • Teacher
    25%
  • Bookkeeper
    25%
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What Pentland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Pentland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pentland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Pentland

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Pentland. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Pentland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Pentland. For the veterans among your Pentland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pentland military records

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What is the average Pentland lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Pentland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Pentland in 1955 was 51, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pentland

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pentland family tree

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