Surname Pencill - Meaning and Origin
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Pencill: What does the surname Pencill mean?
The last name Pencill is of English origin and is thought to be an occupational name for someone who worked with pencils. While this is the most likely explanation, it is also possible that the name might have derived from a fine cloth used to repair windows, known as an “eld pencill”, or from a place called Pencill, a historic manor located in north Leicestershire.
The English surname is rare and was likely borne by only a handful of families. It is believed to be a spelling variant or mispronunciation of an old English term meaning “a painting maker”, although this is unconfirmed.
The name is derived from the Old English words pencel and pincel, which means “small painter” and “brush” respectively. This gives us an indication of how the word could have evolved from an occupation into a surname.
The Pencill surname is not well known, but it does have a small presence throughout England, with a few occurrences in other parts of Europe and even the United States. It is a unique and interesting surname that is likely to have a fascinating history, waiting to be uncovered.
Order DNA origin analysisPencill: Where does the name Pencill come from?
The last name Pencill is most commonly found in the United States today. It originated from the Middle English word "penkil" which referred to a blacksmith's tool or awl. It is believed that the name Pencill first appeared in the United States in 1745 when a family by the name of Pencill sailed from England to the American colonies in search of a better life.
As of 2020, records show that the last name Pencill is most commonly found in the states of Indiana and Ohio. Records indicate that the earliest family of Pencills in the United States was from Ohio in the 1800s, and that family members moved to Indiana shortly thereafter.
Today, the name Pencill is predominantly found in American communities with large concentrations of individuals with England, Ireland, or Scotland heritage. Records show that there is an abundance of individuals with the last name Pencill in the states of Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Michigan, as well as smaller numbers in other states including Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington.
The current Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the last name Pencill as “used by or characteristic of a member of a family of English origin.” It is a testament to the rich heritage of the Pencill surname that its name still remains strong today, and reflects a diverse, multigenerational history in America.
Variations of the surname Pencill
The surname Pencill has many variants, spellings and surnames related to it. Some of the most common variants are Pincil, Pincill, Pencile, Pencallel, Penncile and Penncill. In Scotland, the spelling is Penicill, and in Ireland, it is Penicil.
The Pincil variant is the common English spelling, while the Penicil variant is the common Irish spelling. The Pincill and Pencilla variations are used mainly in America. The Pencile and Pencallel versions are the Dutch spellings, while the Penncile and Penncill variants are used mainly in Scotland.
Spellings of the surname also vary depending on location. For example, the French spelling is Pinçel, while the Spanish spelling is Pinceles. There is also a German spelling, Pensel, and an Italian spelling, Penncelli.
Just as spellings vary, there are surnames with the same origin as Pencill. These include Penn, Penketh, Penman, Pennington and Penny.
If traced further, Pencill is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "penel," which means a fine, stiff paintbrush. This implies that the original bearer of the surname was a painter by profession. Later it became an anglicized form of the French name "Pinçel" and the German name "Pensel."
There are many different variants, spellings and surnames related to Pencill, showing the long history of the surname.
Famous people with the name Pencill
- Malcolm Pencill: Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Courtney Pencill: politician from New York
- Kim Pencill: American actress and writer
- Erwin Pencill: Filipino former professional basketball player
- Craig Pencill: British producer and director
- Scott Pencill: American hip hop recording artist
- Paul Pencill: British rugby union player
- Joseph Pencill: French painter and sculptor
- Philippe Pencill: French graphic designer
- Ray Pencill: Canadian professional wrestler