Surname Pennefather - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pennefather: What does the surname Pennefather mean?
The surname Pennefather is of Irish origin, specifically from the Tipperary region. It is derived from the original Irish name "Mac an Peannaidh," which means "son of the commander" or "son of the chief." The name comes from the Old Irish words "peann," which means "head" or "chief," and "idhe," meaning "lord" or "master." Therefore, this surname implies leadership or authority within a community. It was first recorded in County Tipperary in the 13th century when they held a family seat as chiefs in the barony of Eliogarty. As with many Irish surnames, there are variations in the spelling such as Penefather and Pinnefather.
Order DNA origin analysisPennefather: Where does the name Pennefather come from?
The Pennefather surname is largely common in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia due to the English colonisation of these countries and the generations of British citizens who have settled in them. Specifically, the Pennefather name is believed to have originated in Lincolnshire, England and is mostly found in these countries today.
In England, the Pennefather surname is particularly common in East Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, and Leicestershire. In Ireland, the Pennefather surname is mostly found in counties Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Wexford, and Kerry. The city of Bristol in England is also known to have a notable concentration of the Pennefather name.
In addition to these areas, there have been some notable instances where the Pennefather name is common in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
Regardless of the country, the Pennefather name has been linked to a number of individuals of high social status, including members of the British peerage, authors, artists, and politicians. Interestingly, the Coat of arms for the Pennefather family is said to feature five red roses on a white background, reflecting its centuries-old presence in these countries.
Variations of the surname Pennefather
The surname Pennefather is mostly found in Ireland, with likely origins of the Norman invasion in 1170. The variant spellings for this name are Penfather, Penefathe, Penefathir, Penefather, Pinifather, Pinipedr or Penifader. It may also occurs as Pinifater, Penefater and Finifather.
The surname Penne father is also sometimes seen as a form of the Gaelic Mac an Bheatha. Spellings for this variant are Mac an Betha, Mac Cathail, MacCaezal, MacKail, M'anVetha, MacBheathad, and MacPeathad, according to multiple reports.
The Pennefather, Mac an Bheatha, and Mac Cathail surnames in Ireland are mainly from the counties of Wexford, Cork, and Wicklow. They also appear in other counties in various spellings.
The variations of the Pennefather surname are as follows: Pinifather, Penefathe, Penefathir, Penefather, Penifader, Pinipedr, Pinifater, Penefater, Finifather, Mac an Betha, Mac Cathail, MacCaezal, MacKail, M'anVetha, MacBheathad, and MacPeathad.
Regardless of the spelling, all these surnames are variations of Pennefather and are associated with the same origin, going back generations.
Famous people with the name Pennefather
- Ricci-Jane Pennefather, Irish performer and author
- Robert Pennefather, Australian male tennis player
- Louis Pennefather, Scottish former Association Football Player
- Eddie Pennefather, English professional golfer
- Clair Pennefather, Canadian Olympic field hockey player
- Peter Pennefather, Australian Olympic rower
- Harry Pennefather, English cricketer
- Siva Pennefather, Canadian darts player
- Ann Pennefather, English female professional bridge player
- Kathleen Pennefather, English roller and figure skater