Pendleton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Pendleton date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Pendleton family lived in the chapelry of Pendleton found in the parish of Eccles in Lancashire. The Pendleton surname was originally derived from the Old English word pendle which means hill. It was also derived from the Old English word tonwhich refers to a farm or homestead. Therefore the original bearers of the name lived by the farm that was situated on a hill.

Early Origins of the Pendleton family

The surname Pendleton was first found in Lancashire at Pendleton, a small village and civil parish in Ribble Valley which dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Peniltune and literally meant “farmstead by the hill call Penn (Pendle Hill)” having derived from the Celtic word penn (for hill) + tun. [1] Pendleton is also an inner city area of Salford, Greater Manchester, again historically in Lancashire. For both locations various spellings of the villages were found: Penelton in 1199, Pennelton in 1212, Penilton in 1236, Penhulton in 1331 and Penulton in 1356 before settling on the current spelling about 1600 or so.

Early History of the Pendleton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pendleton research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 155 and 1557 are included under the topic Early Pendleton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pendleton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Pendleton are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Pendleton include: Pendleton, Pendelton and others.

Early Notables of the Pendleton family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Pendleton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pendleton Ranking

In the United States, the name Pendleton is the 1,835^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [2]

 Migration of the Pendleton family to Ireland

Some of the Pendleton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

 Pendleton migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief – conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute – these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Pendleton or a variant listed above.