This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Pengelly family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Pengelly Family History

Pengelly Surname Meaning

Cornish: habitational name from any of at least twelve places called Pengelly (Cornwall).

The placenames derive from Middle Cornish pen (an) gelli ‘grove's end’.

pen means ‘head, top, end; promontory’, while an translates to ‘the’.

kelli refers to ‘grove, small wood’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pengelly family from?

You can see how Pengelly families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pengelly family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Pengelly families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 548 Pengelly families living in Devon. This was about 37% of all the recorded Pengelly's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Pengelly families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pengelly surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Pengelly ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Fisherman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Pengelly. 13% of Pengelly men worked as a Fisherman and 72% of Pengelly women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pengelly were Farmer and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Pengelly | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Fisherman
    13%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Dairy Farmer
    8%
  • Farmer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Pengelly family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Pengelly. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pengelly census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pengelly

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Pengelly. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Pengelly immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Pengelly. For the veterans among your Pengelly ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pengelly military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pengelly family history

Discover More

What is the average Pengelly lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Pengelly life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Pengelly in 1953 was 48, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pengelly

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pengelly ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pengelly family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial