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Penton Family History

Penton Surname Meaning

English (mainly Hampshire): habitational name from Penton Grafton or Penton Mewsey (both in Hampshire) or from a shortened form of Pennington. The placenames denoted a farm or estate for which a penny tax was payable (Old English pening ‘penny’ + tūn). In north-west England, it is a shortened form of Pennington from either of the places called Pennington in Lancashire.

In the West Midlands, it derives from a lost place called Pinton in Alvechurch (Worcestershire). It denoted ‘Pinna's farm’ from an Old English personal name combined with Old English genitival -ing- + tūn. This construction was common in the naming of farms and estates.

In Norfolk, it may be a variant of Panton, suggesting regional variations in the use and interpretation of place names related to farming and habitation. These variations highlight the rich linguistic and historical tapestry of the region.

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


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Where is the Penton family from?

You can see how Penton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Penton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Penton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 22 Penton families living in Ontario. This was about 37% of all the recorded Penton's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Penton families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Penton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Penton ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Penton. 25% of Penton men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Penton women worked as a Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Penton | 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
    25%
  • Cultivateur
    25%
  • Labourer
    17%
  • Contracteur
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    100%

What Penton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Penton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Penton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Penton

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Penton. 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 Penton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Penton. For the veterans among your Penton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Penton family history

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What is the average Penton lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Penton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Penton in 1942 was 64, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Penton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Penton ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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