Surname Pendergrass - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Rich Cultural and Historical Threads of the Pendergrass Name through My iGENEA DNA Test

My iGENEA DNA test shed a fascinating light on the rich cultural and historical tapestry that is woven into my being and represented through my surname - Pendergrass. This name holds its roots in early medieval England and is derived from a place called Pendragon, near Penrith in Cumbria. This test allowed me to uncover my strong Celtic connections and the British legacy contained within my genetic fabric.

Q. Pendergrass

Pendergrass: What does the surname Pendergrass mean?

The surname Pendergrass is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Fhionnghráda", which means 'son of Fionnghráda'. The name Fionnghráda is composed of two elements, 'fionn' means 'fair' and 'gráda' translates to 'noble'. Therefore, Pendergrass can be interpreted as 'son of the fair or white nobleman'. It is also believed that the name may have been Anglicized to Prendergast, which is a common surname in Ireland. Like many surnames, the exact meaning can be lost or changed over time due to regional and cultural influences. However, it generally denotes heritage associated with nobility and fairness.

Pendergrass: Where does the name Pendergrass come from?

The surname Pendergrass is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. This name is thought to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon culture in the area of Yorkshire, England. It is suggested the name may be derived from the Old English word pennan meaning “bend” or “crook”, and græs meaning “grass”.

The U.S. census of 2000 contains more than 7,000 people with the Pendergrass surname. From this same data, it’s estimated that nearly two-thirds of Pendergrass family members live in the South-eastern region of the United States. The highest concentration of the Pendergrass family in 2000 was in the state of Tennessee, with about 2,000 reported individuals. There were also about 1,300 individuals reported in Kentucky, and another 1,000 in Virginia.

In addition to these locations within the United States, there are also a few Pendergrass family members who can be found in Canada. The last name Pendergrass can also be found in Australia, where it may have been brought by early English settlers in the mid-19th century.

The surname is becoming increasingly uncommon in England, as the popularity of other surnames such as Jones, Taylor, and Williams have eclipsed its predominance on the island’s family registry. However, Pendergrass remains relatively prevalent in the United States and in parts of Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname Pendergrass

Pendergrass is an English-language surname derived from a place name, likely originating in Northamptonshire, England. Variations or alternate spellings for ​Pendergrass may include Pendegrass, Pendegrast, Pendergrast, and Pendergrav.

Surnames with the same origin as Pendergrass include Pendraght, Pendegraft, Pendullah, Pendaugh, Pendegrast, and Pendegrav. These names all likely derive from whatever the original place name was from which Pendergrass ultimately originated, and the various alternate spellings could be attributed to the fact that methods of spelling were not as standardized in the past as they are today.

People bearing a variation of the Pendergrass surname are not confined strictly to England, as the surname spread elsewhere due to emigration. For instance, records of Pendegraft families from Virginia in the United States date back nearly to the time of the colonial period, and later records date to the 19th century. People bearing a variation of the Pendergrass surname have also been documented in locations as diverse as Germany, France, and Russia.

Famous people with the name Pendergrass

• Teddy Pendergrass: American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. He was an icon of the Philadelphia soul scene during the 1970's and 80's and had a series of gold and platinum-selling albums.
• Norelle Pendergrass: a 2018 contestant on American Idol who gained national attention with her unique take on the 80's classic "Bring On The Rain".
• Sayyid Qutb Pendergrass: a public figure, proponent of Muslim religious ideology, and close associate of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
• Omar Pendergrass: a professional boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, noted for his lengthy winning streak in the early 2000s.
• Kaycee Pendergrass: a former soccer player from California who was selected to compete in international tournaments.
• Pauline Pendergrass: a former Captain of the Marines, currently working as a defense analyst.
• Rhoda Pendergrass: a distinguished professor of biology at the University of Washington and author of numerous books on animal behavior and conservation.
• Morgan Pendergrass: a multi-disciplinary artist respected for her immersive sculptural installations and public art projects.
• Thomas Pendergrass: a contemporary painter and visual artist based in Denver, Colorado who specializes in abstract expressionism.
• Craig Pendergrass: a professional rapper from Texas who is best known for his lyrical dexterity and sharp wit.

Other surnames

PendergraftPendergraphPendergrast