There are approximately 9,882 people named Penny in the UK. Approximately 156 out of every million people in the UK are named Penny.
"The word penny derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "peni(n)g", penny, and is cognate with the Old High German "pfenning" and the Old Norse "penningr". As a surname Penny had clearly emerged by the beginning of the 13th Century (see below), and further early recordings include, Gileburtus Penning, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1204, and in the records of the Shropshire Assize Court Rolls of 1221, a William Peny comes to notice. Variant spellings of the surname include Penney, Pennie and Pennings. An early registration in London Church Registers was for the marriage of Anthony Penny and Arabella Turnor on April 20th 1625, at St. Giles' Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Penig, which was dated 1191, in the "Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199." - The Internet Surname database
Some Early Penny Entries
Richard Penny from Aylesford Hundred was assessed 11 3/4 d in the Lay Subsidy of 1334/5
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the Widow Pene, (widowed by 1585) of Maidstone in Kent, was given a subsidy of 3 pounds in goods in 1585
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Richard Penny, (c 1630? - aft 1670) of Westree in Maidstone, was assessed rates in 1669-71.
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Goodwife Penny, of Maidstone, was paid overseers accounts in 1680 when sick
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Sarah Penny ( died 1709) m (A) William Cavell (died bef 1700) in Maidstone in 1667. (B) Clement Whiting in 1700 and was widowed again in 1703. She and William had 5 or 6 children in Maidstone. Was Sarah the below Henry's sister?, a cousin? Someone who merely shares the same surname?
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John Penny (c1665? - aft 1688) a husbandman ("farmer") of Chatham ( 6 miles North from Maidstone) ,paid bach 35 for a marriage license in 1688
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Thomas Penny (c1670? - aft 1689) a yeoman ("small landowner", "term in England in the 15th century for the freeholder, a rank belowthat of gentleman, who owned and farmed his own land for the ebenfit of his own household, he was independant and without a master.") of Boughton Bleane (4 miles South of Maidstone) , paid bach 23 for a marriage license in 1690.
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Goodman Penny, (c1680?) of Maidstone, was paid overseers accounts weekly for 2 years (1706-8)
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Mother Penny, of Maidstone, received 24 wks @ 1/- per wk overseers accounts in 1715.
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