Origin of the Penn Surname
The Penn surname is of Unknown origin (Unknown). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #1,849 with 19,409 Americans (6.58 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Penn traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Penn |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | Unknown |
| Language | Unknown |
| US Rank (2010) | #1,849 |
| US Count (2010) | 19,409 |
| Per 100K People | 6.58 |
| First Letter | P |
Ethnic Distribution of Penn
Among 19,409 Americans named Penn, the largest self-reported group is White (50.56%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Penn Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Penn moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Penn family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Penn Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Penn Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Penn
- ✓ The Penn coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Penn families live today
- ✓ Notable Penn bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Penn fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Penn
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Penn.
Other Unknown Surnames
Explore more surnames with Unknown roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same Unknown origin as Penn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn
Top Surnames Starting with P
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter P, ranked by population.
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