Explore the Family Name Penson
The meaning of Penson
English: 1. patronymic from the Middle English female personal name Penn, a pet form of Pernel, or perhaps from the Middle English personal name Payne + -son. See Penn, Parnell. 2. habitational name from Penson in North Huish (Devon), which derives from the Anglo-Norman French personal name Payn(e) (see Payne) + Middle English toun ‘village, town, settlement’ (Old English tūn ‘farmstead, estate’).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Penson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Penson has seen a rise in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 16,871 in terms of frequency, but by 2010, it had climbed to a rank of 15,483, which is an increase of 8.23%. The total count of people bearing the surname also grew significantly during this period. There were 1,557 individuals with this surname recorded in the year 2000, and this number rose to 1,891 by 2010 - a substantial increase of 21.45%. The proportion of Pensons per 100,000 people likewise increased by 10.34% from 0.58 to 0.64.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,871 | #15,483 | 8.23% |
| Count | 1,557 | 1,891 | 21.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.58 | 0.64 | 10.34% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Penson
The ethnic identity associated with the Penson surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, is predominantly Black, followed by White. From 2000 to 2010, there was a slight decrease in the percentage of Black (-3.65%) and White (-5.75%) bearers of the Penson surname. However, other ethnic groups have seen an increase in the same time frame. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 120.39%, Hispanic by 39.58%, those from two or more races by 52.36%, and American Indian and Alaskan Native by 89.74%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 53.18% | 51.24% | -3.65% |
| White | 39.5% | 37.23% | -5.75% |
| Hispanic | 3.79% | 5.29% | 39.58% |
| Two or More Races | 2.12% | 3.23% | 52.36% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.03% | 2.27% | 120.39% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.39% | 0.74% | 89.74% |