Map of England showing where the Penny arms are recorded
The Penny arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1574.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Penny arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Northampton.
Origin & History of the Penny Family in England
The surname Penny is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval England, likely referring to a person who was associated with the coin of the same name. This association could have stemmed from a person’s role as a tax collector, a merchant, or perhaps someone who was known for being frugal. By the time the family was firmly established in Northampton in 1574, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, the Penny family lived in a region known for its strong ties to the wool trade and local craftsmanship. As the family grew in Northampton, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of the town, participating in the daily life of a growing English market center. Their presence in local parish records from the late sixteenth century suggests that they were settled, contributing members of the community who helped shape the history of the area.
Penny Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
penig
Old English term for a small silver coin or token.
This name
PennyOriginally a nickname for someone who was wealthy or associated with the minting of coins.
also spelled
Penney
Penie
Related arms
Penneyvariant spelling
Arglesrecorded with Penny, same area
Buckminsterrecorded with Penny, same area
Cumberlandrecorded with Penny, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Northamptonshire Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Northampton All Saints, 1574
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