Explore the Family Name Halfpenny
The meaning of Halfpenny
1. English: nickname probably for a tenant whose feudal obligations included a regular payment in cash or kind (for example bread or salt) of a halfpenny. The tenants of Halfpenny Field in Elm (Cambridgeshire), for example, had to pay a halfpenny per acre for the maintenance and repair of nearby Needham Dyke. 2. Irish (Louth and Meath): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hAilpín, see Halpin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Halfpenny in the United States?
The surname Halfpenny, based on Decennial U.S. Census data, ranked 68,172 in popularity in the year 2000 and fell slightly to 69,392 in 2010, marking a decrease of 1.79%. Despite the drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased from 270 in 2000 to 283 in 2010, a growth of 4.81%. The proportion per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.1 over this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #68,172 | #69,392 | -1.79% |
| Count | 270 | 283 | 4.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Halfpenny
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that in 2000, 96.3% of those with the surname Halfpenny identified as White. This figure decreased marginally to 94.35% by 2010. No individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years. However, there was a small rise in individuals identifying with two or more races, which was 0% in 2000 and increased to 3.18% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.3% | 94.35% | -2.02% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.18% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |