As I mentioned in one of my other posts, I have a lot of general information about Pennells, most of which is unproven to be related. I have 4 “stories”:
- 1978, J. W. Pennell of Arroyo Grande, CA, USA in a letter to Edna Ollivier
- “Pennell Family History” as written by W. J. C. Pennell, Sydney, N.S.W. Australia
December 1969 - 1977 “Pennell Family Records” edited by J. C. Baker
- Google (Pennell Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms (houseofnames.com)
Story #1 – source J. W. Pennell, Arroyo Grande, CA,
Letter to Edna Ollivier, March 9, 1978
In about 51 B.C., when the Romans pulled out of Gaul (Normandy) they abandoned a fortress that they had called “Pinnellium”. After the Romans left, the leader of the local peasants took over the deserted fortress and began to exercise authority over the area. Then those, living inside the place became known as the People of Pinnellium, and their leader as the “Baron of Pinnillium”. Soon after tho[ugh], the Franks not liking anything Roman anyway, changed the name of the place to “The Baronage of Pinel” and their leader was thereafter known as “The Baron Pinel”.
Raoul Pinel (also known as Rollo) was a Baron in 1066 and the Baronage was assessed men and supplies for William the Duke of Normandy. Raoul and his sone Turston de Paignel, were at the Battle of Hastings in the first week of October 1066. (October 14, 1066 to be exact). Now Raoul (Rollo) was awarded sovereignty over 134 English manors, located in Kent and Essex. Turston was awarded 92 of these landed estates in the same shires adjoining those held by his father. The above is authenticated in the DOMESDAY BOOKS, by the monk Wace in his account of the conquest, on the Roll of Battle Abbey and as described in Burkes “Landed Gentry”.
NOTE: I Googled these sources, and after looking through my copy of the DOMESDAY BOOK, I could find no references to any of this information.
Anyway there was to be a Baron Pinel for the 1100 years following 51 B.C. It was not until the great census in 1083 was there to be a family name attached to all the followers of the Baron Pinel.
The author of this letter goes as far as quoting the bible to find the origins of Pennell, citing Genesis, chapter 32, paragraphs 31 and 32: “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved’. And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped upon his thigh.”
The author also makes mention that Pen means “a high place”. It is interesting in Story #3 below, it mentions that Pen is Celtic for “head, top or end… with Anglo-Saxon word “hill”.
The letter continues…
In the middle of 1700’s, a Thomas and his brother Clement came over from the Isle of Jersey and settled near Brunswick, Maine. They founded a ship building company which built ships for the next hundred years.
Anyway Thomas married Rachel Riggs June 14, 1735 and his brother Clement married Ruth Riggs January 10, 1742. Both had large families. The genealogy of these two are in the books there in Salt Lake. (Anyone living in 1916 is the books.) I have documented records of some of the Pennell people moving to Canada during the Rev. War. They were known as “Tories” and I guess they just didn’t want to fight the King.
Perhaps they were known as “Tories”, but they were also known as “Loyalists” and many moved from the USA to Canada during that time. However, we do know from solid documentation that OUR Pennells immigrated on the S. S. Niger in 1871 from England to Ontario, not from the USA. This may however give a little history into the origins of the name Pennell.
Story #2: Source “Pennell Family History” as written by W. J. C. Pennell, Sydney, N.S.W. Australia
December 1969
This is a booklet contains every instance of the name Pennell and suspected derivative that appears in any record that was available and accessible to the author in the United Kingdom in 1969.
The family of the Pennells is of ancient West-Country origin and traces its descent from ancestors who were already living at PENHAL in Cornwall before the Conquest. Subsequently the family moved to LUPTON in Devonshire where they resided for some centuries.
The name went through several variations in spelling, being written at different times as PENHALL, PENHALE or PENNYL, but did not assume its ultimate form of PENNELL til the 15th century.
Around 1390 John Penhale and Richard Penhale are recorded as being PRIORS OF PLYMPTON PRIORY and in 1415 a certain Richard Pennell who was Canon of Creiton, and Exeter and Vicar of PAIGNTON, became Archdeacon of Cornwall. He was also President of the Consistonal (sic?) Council.
This letter goes on to describe anyone famous with the name of Pennell and how they are likely all related
Story #3: Pennell Family Records, edited by J. C. Baker, September 1977
Call Number British Film Area 0990486, item 12 LDS FHL
Photocopy of no. 91 in a limited edition of 150 copies
Most authorities derive the modern name Pennell from place names in different parts of England. Many of the Pennells of Worcestorshire and surrounding counties, for instance, have a name taken from Penhull in Pensax parish – referring to a nearby hilltop (the Celtic word Pen meaning head, top or end, with the Anglo-Saxon word hill). An early example is Alured de Penhull, i.e. Alured of Pen hill, recorded in the Worcs Assize Rolls for 1221.
Many people named Penell/Pennell were living in this locality during the 16th and 17th centuries. In south-west England, where Penewell, Peniwill, etc., were common variants, the name apparently derived from Penhill in Fremington parish, Devon, and from Penheale in Egloskerry parish, Cornwall – perhaps in the a few cases also from Penyhyll in Stockland which survives today as Penny Hill Farm.
The Introduction of this booklet goes on to give examples of years and names, such as Ricardus de Pennal, Nicholaus de Pennal, Wm de Peneylles, David Penyles, Hy de Peniles, Wm Pennel, Jn Penelle, etc. Its quite mind boggling.
My great-grandfather, Richard William Pennell who is buried in Rutherglen, was born in Northfleet, Kent in 1834. His father, also Richard William Pennell was born in Botolphe, Middlesex (London). Then Ancestry makes “smart matches” and immediately changes the last name to Pinnell. It is interesting to note that in this Pennell Family Records there is a …
Jn. Pennell, citizen of London, a fishmonger in St. Botolph’s parish, Aldgate, who was apprenticed 1626, became a freeman 1635 and paid poll tax 1641. Other London Pennells include Sam, son of Mathew….
This is a section I may come back to when I try to push Ancestry into another direction. The booklet also includes American records, but its not until page 44 where it lists extracts of death records where I can make a positive match: Ric [Pennell] 72 Lewisham. This is my great-grandfather’s father. Then on page 46: Frances [Pennell] 86 Lewisham. This is his wife Frances Pettitt.
A 4th source of information, of course, is now Google (the internet) and the mention in the Pennell Family Records of a Coat of Arms on page 9 prompted a search leading me to Pennell Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms (houseofnames.com). Here again reference can be found to the Domesday Book (a 2nd search through my book revealed nothing) and corroborates the name beginning with a Baron Pinel, landowner in Essex and Suffolk.
Most important here is the merchandising of the Pennell Coat of Arms onto mugs, key chains and hoodies.
