Surname Pendergraph - Meaning and Origin
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Pendergraph: What does the surname Pendergraph mean?
The last name Pendergraph is of English origin, believed to be derived from the geographical region of Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. The term "Pendle" translates to "hill", and "graph" could be from an old English term "graf" which means a grove, thus the name could mean "hill grove". Another interpretation of "graph" is "to write or record", in which case the name could signify 'one who records the hills'. However, there's no universally accepted definitive meaning. This surname has many variations including Pendergrast, Pendergrass, Pendergast, and others. As a surname, it's said to have first been used in the Middle Ages, evolved from geographical names given to people who lived near particular landmarks or regions. It's worth mentioning that the meanings assigned to surnames are mostly speculative since they were adopted for indicating geographic origin, occupational specialty, or were sometimes patronymic (derived from father’s name), or even toponymic (derived from the name of a town, village, or residence).
Order DNA origin analysisPendergraph: Where does the name Pendergraph come from?
The last name Pendergraph is most commonly found today in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The United States is home to the highest population of individuals with the last name Pendergraph, with over 1,000 individuals. Records from the 1950's census indicate that the first known member of the Pendergraph family to inhabit the US was from Scotland, and came via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The state of Arkansas is home to the highest concentration of Pendergraphs, with large populations also found in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and Texas.
The United Kingdom is home to large populations of Pendergraphs in the English cities of London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, and in the Welsh cities of Cardiff and Swansea. The Australian cities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane all have large Pendergraph populations, making Australia a close second to the United States. Canada also has a large Pendergraph population, with large concentrations of individuals found in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The last name Pendergraph is thought to be of Scottish-Irish origin, variants of the name including Pendergast, Pendergrass and Pendegrass. There is a town in Scotland named Pendergast, thought to be the location from which the surname was derived. Records from the early 1800's reveal that some members of the original Pendergraph family maintained their Scottish roots, despite leaving for the United States. The Pendergraph surname is shared by several prominent figures, including community activist Janice Pendergast, former NFL safety Corey Pendergrass and former basketball player Jeff Pendergraph.
Variations of the surname Pendergraph
The surname Pendergraph is an anglicized spelling of the Dutch name, van der Graaf. The spelling and pronunciation of the surname evolved over time, and it now has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
One of the most common variants is Pendergraft. Here the 'a' in graaf is substituted for an 'o' instead. Another variant is Pendegraft. This is a more common spelling and it is used in the United States. It is similar to Pendergraft, but it uses an 'e' instead of an 'a'.
The spelling Perdeegraff is another variant, where the 'e' and 'o' are switched. Also, Pendergast is a common spelling, where the 'f' is substituted for a 't' at the end of the name.
Pindergraph is an old spelling used in England. This spelling features a second 'd'. Pendrigraph is yet another commonly used variant, where the 'f' is instead replaced with 'h'.
In addition, the suffix 'van' is sometimes added before the name. This results in the spelling Pendergraphvan, Pendegrafvan, Perdeegraffvan, Pendergastvan, Pindergraphvan, or Pendrigraphvan.
The surnames van der Graff, Vandegraaf, Verdegraff, Verdeegraf, Vandergriff, Vandergraph, Vandergrift, Vandergraph, and Vandergraaf are all variants of Pendergraph and are all of the same Dutch origin.
Famous people with the name Pendergraph
- Jeff Pendergraph: Jeff Pendergraph is a former American professional basketball player who played eight seasons in the NBA. He played college basketball at Arizona State University and was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft.
- Shaquala Pendergraph: Shaquala Pendergraph is an American professional basketball player who currently plays in the Women's National Basketball Association. She has previously played for the San Antonio Silver Stars and Los Angeles Sparks.
- Elliot Pendergraph: Elliot Pendergraph is an American actor who has appeared in such television shows as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "Shameless" and "Criminal Minds". He is also a voice actor who has provided his voice for the video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3".
- Laura Pendergraph: Laura Pendergraph is an American political strategist and lobbyist who served as the Director of Public Outreach for the Florida Department of Children and Families in 2015.
- Ky Pendergraph: Ky Pendergraph is a former American professional basketball player who played for the Utah Jazz in the NBA. He also played college basketball at Arizona State University and was selected in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
- Steve Pendergraph: Steve Pendergraph is a former American football player who played wide receiver in the NFL for three seasons. He played college football at St. Augustine's College and later went on to become the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks.