# Patronymica Cornu-Britannica/P

P.
PARK, PARKE. From parc, a field, enclosure, park for beasts. There is a place called Park in the parish of St. Clement's.
PASCO, PASCOE. A Cornish variation of Pascal, an old French baptismal name, first imposed on those born at the season of Pasche or Easter.
PATHERICK. See Petherick.
PEARDEN, PEARDON. From ped-den, the pear-hill.
PEARN. From pern, sadness, regret; or bearn, a child. Hence, no doubt, Pearne and Peern.
PEDIGREE. See Pettigrew.
PEDRICK. See Petherick.
PEERN. See Pearn.
PELLEW, PELLOW, PILLOW, are doubtless the same name. Lower, under Pellew, says Lord Exmouth's family are of Cornish origin; and he seems to think that the name is a variation of Bellew, which he considers of Norman origin, from bel-eau (bella-aqua), the fair water, the designation of some locality, as Belleau parish in co. Lincoln. As Cornish names, Pellew, &c., may be derived from the pl. of pil, a sea-ditch, trench filled at high water, a manor, lordship.
PELNIDDON. From Pelniddon in St. Austell, which ​Tonkin renders "the top of the ford" (pol-nyd). He says Pelniddon was a knightly family.
PEMBER. From pen-ber, the short head, little promontory. The name Henrico de la Pombre is mentioned as a witness in a deed made by Simon de Alls, in which he gave the manor of Laneseley to the Prior of St. German's and others. (See D. Gilbert, ii. 119.) Pember, Pombre may be the same as what Leland calls Pembro. "From Godolcan to Pembro, &c."
PEMEWAN, PERMEWAN. From pen-mean, the head of the stone or rock; or the stony promontory. Ber-mean would translate the short stone.
PEN, PENN. From pen, a head, hill. Hence perhaps the names Penna, Benny, Benney, Pinney.
PENALMICK, PENALMICKE, anc. De PENALMICK. From the barton and manor of Penalmicke in Stithians, which Hals renders "the head or chief coat-of-mail armor; so called for that such armour was made or lodged in this place in former ages by the possessors thereof." The name is rather from pen-elan-ick, the head of the elms' place.
PENALUNA. From pen-lyn, the head of the pond or pool.
PENALURICK. See Penhalurick.
PENARTH. From pen-arth, the high or lofty head.
PENBERTHY. From Penberthy; from pen-berth, -verth, the green top. Pryce renders "berthy, to bear, to carry; Treberthes in Veryan, the bearing or fruitful place."
PENBERY. From pen-bry, the head of the hill; or pen-bry, the head of the clay.
PENBETHA. From pen-bedhou, the head of the graves.
​PENBETHY. (A name found in the United States.) From Penbetha or Penberthy, q. v.
PENCAROW, PENCARROW. From an estate in Eylos-Hayle, which had an old family of gentlemen of its own name as owners down to the reign of Henry VII. (Hals.) There is or was a village called Pencarow in Advent. Hals, after referring to another etymology, "pen-carou, pen-caro, alias pen-carow, i.e., head deer of chief deer, formerly part of the Peverells' deer-park, and from thence so denominated as some think," considers the name to be "from pen-caer-ou or pen-caer-ow, i.e., my head castle or city, intrenched or fortified place, according to the artificial and natural circumstances thereof, it being on a hill overlooking the contiguous country." Tonkin says, "I take the name of Pencarrow to be of a much more ancient fate than the first bringing of deer into this land, and that the name is taken from the natural circumstances of the place, as compounded of pen-car-ow, head-rock-ry; for in this place is digged a quarry of bright clear freestone, that works with tool, plane, or hammer, equal to any other in Cornwall, as may be seen by the beautiful house Sir John Molesworth has built with it, &c." Pen-carew would translate the head place of the deer; pen-carau, the stag's head; pen-carrow, the head of the rock; pen-carrog, the head of the brook.
PENCAVEL. See Penkevil.
PENCOLL. From Pencoll in St. Enodor; from pen-col, the head of the ridge, or of the promontory (col for kil). Hals renders Pencoll or Pencooth "the head wood, a name also of old, taken from the ancient natural circumstances of the place."
PENCOOSE. From Pencoose in Kenwyn, or Pencoose in Perran Arwarthal; from pen-cus, the head of the wood.
​PENDAR, PENDER, PENDRE. From Pentre or Pendrea in the parish of Burian; from pen-drea, the head town, or pen-dar, the head of the oak. The Pendars were seated at Trevidden in Burian for upwards of five centuries.
PENDARVES, PENDARVIS. From Pendarves in Camborne; from pen-dar-vêz, the head of the oak-field.
PENDEEN, PENDENE. From Pendeen in St. Just; which Pryce renders "head man's place." It is more probably from pen-den, -din, the head of the hill.
PENDENNIS. From the castle of Pendenis or Pendunes (ancient name of St. Ives); from pen-dinaz, -dinas, the peninsula or fortified headland; or, according to Camden, the head fort, fortress, or fortified place.
PENDER, PENDRE. See Pendar.
PENDERAY, PENDRY. From root of Pendered, q. v.
PENDERED, PENDRED. From pen-draith, the head of the sands (draith, gravel, sand, the sandy shore covered at high water). But see Pendar.
PENDRY. See Penderay.
PENELIGAN. See Penhaligon.
PENESTONE, PENEYSTONE. See Penystone.
PENFERN. From Penwarne, the appellation of several places in Cornwall; from pen-warne, -wern, -gwern, the head of the alder-trees; or it may be the same with Penfoune, q. v. The manor of Kennal in Stithians belonged to Matthew Penfern, temp. Edw. II.
PENFOUND. This family, who are traced eight generations beyond 1620, derived their name from the estate of Penfound in Poundstock. "They ruined themselves by their adherence to the Stuarts;" and Ambrose Penfound, ​who alienated the estate of his ancestors, died at Dartmouth about 1764. (C. S. Gilbert.) From root of Penfoune, q. v.
PENFOUNE, PENFOWNE. Tonkin mentions a Penfoune in Poundstock as the seat of a very ancient family from thence denominated. Hals renders "Pen-fon, now Penfowne, in Poundstock, the head well, spring of water, or fountain;" but the name more probably means "the head of the well." Hence the names Penfound and Pinfound.
PENGARSICK. From Pengarswick in St. Breock in Kerrier, concerning which Hals says, "Pen-gar-wick, in this parish, also Pen-gars-wick, id est, the head word or command, fenced or fortified place; so called from the command or authority of the lord thereof heretofore in these parts, and the strength of the house and the tower thereof; otherwise Pen-gweras-ike, i. e., the creek, cove, or bosom of waters, head help, as situate upon the sea, or waters of the British Channel"! Pryce translates Pen-gersick, the green headland (pen-geare-ick?); but it may also come from pen-garz-ick, the head of the hedge place.
PENGELLY, PENGELLEY, PENGILLY, PENGILLEY, PENGILLAY, PENGULLY. From Pengelly in Blisland, Pengelly in St. Teath, or Pengilly in Creed; from pen-gilly, -gelly, the head of the grove.
PENGLAZE, PENGLASE. From Penglaze in Crowan, or Penglaze in Kenwyn; from pen-glase, -glaze, the green head or promontory.
PENGOLD. From Pengold in St. Gennys; from pen-gol, the holy head, or pen-col, the head of the ridge.
PENGOVER. From Pengover in Menherriot; from pen-gover, the head of the brook.
PENGREE. From pen-grou, the head off the sand or ​gravel; or from Pengreep in Gwennap, from pen-greab, -crib, the head of the rock.
PENGUICK. From Penkuke in Gennys; from pen-kuke, -guik, the head village, or the head of the village.
PENGULLY. See Pengelly.
PENHALE, PENHALL. From Penhale, the name of places in Davidstow, Duloe, Gwinear, Ladock, Lanivet, and the Luxulion, and of a manor in Perranzabuloe; from pen-hâl, head of the moor. Hals says, "In Domesday, Eyles-kerry (1087) was taxed under the name of Pen-hall-an, now Penheale, then and still the voke-lands of a considerable manor." Tonkin calls it Penhele or Penhale, which he renders the head of the river. Penhell and Penheale are doubtless the same name. Cf. Penhallow.
PENHALIGON, var. PENELIGAN, PENLIGAN. From pen-helygan, the head of the willows. Cf. Penhellick.
PENHALL. See Penhale.
PENHALLINYK. From pen-elin-ick, the head of the angular place; or pen-elan-ick, the head off the place of elms. Warin Penhallinyk was Prebendary of the monastery of Penryn, Rector of St. Just in Roseland, Vicar of Wendron and of the adjoining parish Stithyans. Cf. Penalmick.
PENHALLOW. From an estate in Philleigh, where the family dwelt from temp. Edw. III. till the middle of the 18th century; also the appellation off places in Newlyn and Perranzabuloe. The name is derived from pen-hallow, the head of the moors. Cf. Penhale.
PENHALURICK. From Penhalurick, which Polwhele renders the head of the rich moors (perhaps pen-hâl-rik). ​Penalurick, Penularick, Penhaluwick, Penlirick, Penlerick, are merely different forms of the same name.
PENHALUWICK. Penhalurick.
PENHEALE. From Penheale in Alternun. But see Penhall.
PENHELL. From Penhell, a tenement in St. Michael Penkevil. But see Penhale.
PENHELLICK. From an estate in the parish of St. Clements, where the elder branch became extinct at an early period; from pen-hellik, the head of the willows. Penhellick is also the appellation of places in Broadoak and Illogan. Cf. Penhaligon.
PENIKETT, PENKET, PENKETH. See Penniket.
PENKETH. See Penniket.
PENKETHLY. Perhaps from Penkelly in Pelynt; from root of Pengelly. But see also Penketh.
PENKETHMAN. From pen-coet-maen, the head of the woody place; or pen-coet-mân, the head of the little wood.
PENKEVIL, PENKIVIL, PINKERVIEL, PENCAVEL. From the manor or barton of Penkevil St. Michael, in Powdre hundred, where the family flourished till the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The local name is derived from pen-kevil, the horse's head.
PENLEASE, PENLEZ. From Penlees in St. Breock; from pen-glase, the green head; or pen-leas, -lees, the head of the open.
PENLEE. From pen-le, the head of the place. Pryce renders it the head or point of land projecting. Penley would seem to be the same name.
PENLERICK. See Penhalurick.
PENLEY. See Penlee.
​PENLEZ. See Penlease.
PENLIGAN. See Penhaligon.
PENLIRICK. See Penhalurick.
PENLYER. From pen-lear, the head of the sea (Ir. lear, the sea). Pen-lûar would signify the head of the garden; pen-ledr, the head of the cliff or steep hill.
PENMAN. From pen-maen, the head of the rock, or the stone head or promontory.
PENN, PENNA. See Pen.
PENNALYKY. From pen-hellik, the head of the willows. There is a Pennellick in Pelynt. Cf. Penhellick and Penhaligon.
PENNANT. The well-known Pennant family are from the parish and township of that name, co. Montgomery. The Cornish family are from Pennant in St. Endelion, or Pennant in St. Cleer; from pen-nant, the head of the vale.
PENNECK, PENNERKES, PENNICK. See Pinnock.
PENNIKET, PENIKETT. From the ancient family of Pentquit and De Pencoit, that lived at Penquite in Glant, temp. Hen. III. and Edw. I. The name is from pen-quite, -coit, the head or top of the wood. Penquite is the appellation of places in Blisland, St. Breward, and Lanivet; and there is a Penquitte in Landrake; and Pole gives Pennycot and Penquit as the name of places in Devonshire. Penket, Penketh are the same name.
PENNO. See Pennow.
PENNOCK. See Pinnock.
PENNOW, PENNO. From pednow, the great head; or pennou, a hill. ​PENPHRAISE. See Penprase.
PENPONS. From Penpons, an estate in the parish of St. Kew, formerly the property of the family; from pen-pons, the head of the bridge.
PENPRASE, PENPRAZE. From pen-prâs, the head of the meadow. Hence Penfraze, Penprice, and the U.S. name Penphraise.
PENPRICE. See Penprase.
PENRHYN. See Penrin.
PENRICE. From an estate in the parish of St. Austell. Pryce translates the name, the head of the fleeting ground (pen-rice, -rees). Penrice, however, is the name of a castle and manor, written anc. Pen-Rhys, co. Glamorgan, where a family of this name resided in early times.
PENRIN, PENRHYN. From Penryn in Kerrier hundred; from pen-rin, for pen-ruan, the head or promontory of the channel; but, according to some, the head of the hill (pen-rhyn).
PENROSE. From Penrose, the name of places in Blisland, Luxulion, and Sithney; from pen-rose, the head of the valley; according to Gilbert, the hill of the heath (pen-ros). Hence, by corruption, the names Perose and Bemrose.
PENRUDDOCK, PENRUDDOCKE. Lower says of Penruddocke, "The family first appear at Arkelby, co. Cumberland; but as there is, in the neighbourhood of that place, in the parish of Greystock, a hamlet so called, they are presumed to have originated there. The Encyc. Herald. however assigns arms to a family of this name in that land of Pens, Cornwall, and so there may be two local origins and distinct families. The surname has long been ​associated with Wiltshire and Hampshire." Pen-ruddock would signify the hill of the robin redbreast; but the name is more probably from pen-rydh-ick, the place of the red promontory; or pen-ryd-ick, the head of the ford place.
PENTER. See Pentire.
PENTINE. From pen-tin, -din, the head of the fortified place; or from the manor of Pentuan in Mevagissey; or Pentwan or Pentuan in St. Austell; both from pen-towan, -tuan, -tuyn, the head of the sand banks.
PENTIRE. From Pentire in Endellion; from pen-tîr, the headland. "The manor of Pentuan (in Mevagissey) was the property, and its barton the chief seat, of the Pentires, after they removed from Pentire in Endellion." (D. Gilbert.) Penter is the same surname. Penter's Cross is the appellation of a village in Pillaton, in East hundred.
PENTQUIT. See Penniket.
PENTREATH. From pen-treath, the head of the sea-shore.
PENULARICK. See Penhalurick.
PENVER. From pen-veor, the great head.
PENWARDEN. From pen-warth-en, the high head or hill.
PENWARN, PENWARNE. From Penwarn in Mawnan, or Penwarn in Mevagissey; from pen-warn, the head of he alder-trees.
PENWARVERELL, or PENWORVERELL. From pen-gavar, the goat's head, or the head of the goat's place. Pryce renders the local name Polwheverell, the kids' pool.
PENWITH. From the hundred of Penwith, which Camden renders "the left-hand promontory." Others derive the name from pen-guith, -guydh, the most conspicuous high ​land. The name may also mean the high head or promontory.
PENWORVERELL. See Penwarverell.
PENYSTONE, PENYSTON, var. PENESTONE, PENEYSTONE, PENNYSTONE. Thos. de Penyston is said to have flourished at Truro in the reign of the Conqueror. These names are from pen-is-ton, the head of the corn enclosure; or the first part of the name may be that of the owner, Penny.
PERMEWAN. See Pemewan.
PEROSE. A probable corruption of Penrose, q. v.
PERRANAHNEUTHNO. From the parish of Perranutho or Perran Uthno, i. e., Perran by the exposed height or swelling (uth-no). This family is now merged in the female branch.
PERROW. Probably from the French Pierre, Peter; like Clemow, from Clement.
PETERICK. See Petherick.
PETHEICK. See Pethick.
PETHERICK. From Little Petherick or St. Petroc Minor, a parish and village in Pyder hundred, so called from the church being dedicated to St. Petrock, i. e., St. Peter. Cf. the names Patherick, Pedrick, and Peterick.
PETHICK, PETHEICK. From peth-, pith-ick, the rich dwelling (peth, pith, riches, wealth).
PETTIGREW, var. PETIGREW, PETTYGREW, PETTICRU. From the manor of Pettigrew in Gerans parish, in Powdre hundred; from bedh-y-grew, the crane's grove. Hence the U. S. name Pedigree.
PETVIN. A probable corruption of Petherwin, q. v.; or from bedho-vean, the little birch-tree.
​PHEASANT, FESANT. From Lepheasant, near St. Austell; from le-vissan, the lower place; or le-vease, the outward place. Fazan, Fazon are most probably the same name.
PHYSICK. According to some, from Lefisick, in St. Austell. Hals considers Lefisick in St. Mewan the Refishoc of Domesday. Cf. Bosvîsick (see Bossowsack); also Trevisick in Blisland. D. Gilbert gives a place named Tre-izack, which he renders the corn town. Visick and Visack are most probably the same name as Physick.
PHYTHIAN. See Mithian.
PILE, PILL. From pil, a little hillock; also a sea ditch or salt-water trench, a trench filled at high water, a little harbour. According to Lhuyd, pill is also a manor or lordship.
PILLAMONTAYNE. See Pollamounter.
PILLIVANT. See Bullivant.
PILLOW. See Pellew.
PINARD. From pen-ard, the high head of land or rock; or the high hill.
PINFOUND. See Penfoune.
PINKERVIEL. See Penkevil.
PINNEY. See Pen.
PINNICK. See Pinnock.
PINNOCK. From the parish of the same name. Pryce gives "Pennick, Penneck, Penek, ack, ock, ok, the head creek, brook, rivulet, or place; Penok, head oak, nom. fam." A more reasonable derivation would be from pen-ick, the head place. Penneck, Pennick, Pennock, Pinnick, Penerkes, may be the same name, or of the same origin.
PLAMING. Another orthography of Plymin, q. v.
​PLYMIN, PLAMING. From pleu-mên, the stony parish or place.
POLAMONTER, POLAMOUNTAIN. See Pollamounter.
POLAND. See Bolland.
POLARD. See Pollard.
POLCEARNE, POLKEARNE. From Polcairn in Mawgan in Pyder; from pol-karn, the head of the heap of rocks; or the rocky head, or rocky pool.
POLEGREEN. See Polgrean.
POLGANHORN. See Polkinghorne.
POLGLASE, POLGLAZE, POLGLOSE. From Polglase in St. Earme, not far from Killigrew (of which manor it anciently formed part); or Polglaze, name of places in Cuby and Cury parishes; from pol-glase, -glaze, the green pool.
POLGREAN, POLGREEN. From Polgrean in St. Michael Carhays; from pol-grean, the gravel pits. Hence the U. S. name Polegreen.
POLHAL, POLHILL. See Polwhele.
POLITO. See Bolitho.
POLKEARNE. See Polcearne.
POLKINGHORNE, POLKINHORN, POLKINHORNE, POLKENHORN, POLGANHORN. From Polkinghorne in Gwinnear; from pol-gan-hoarn, a pool with (containing) iron, i. e., a chalybeate pool, a medicinal pool. Hence, by contraction, the name Polkorn.
POLKORN. See Polkinghorne.
POLLAMOUNTAIN. See Pollamounter.
POLLAMOUNTER, var. POLAMONTER, POLOMOUNTER, POLLOMOUNTER, POLAMOUNTAIN, ​POLLAMOUNTAIN, PILLAMONTAYNE. There are Polmanter Downs at St. Ives, and Pollamount in Pyder. According to D. Gilbert, the Polamonters are from Pollamonter in Newland. Tonkin, under Newlin, says Pallamaunter or Palmaunter was formerly a gentleman's seat, and gave name to an ancient family since removed to Trevyzick, in St. Columb Minor. One of the oldest orthographies of this surname was Pillamontayne. The name may mean the head of the mountain, from pol, a head. Pil is a little hillock, a sea ditch, a trench filled at high water; and pill is a manor or lordship.
POLLAN. See Bolland.
POLLARD, in H. R. POLARD. From pol-ard, the high top or head.
POLLCOWE. See Polleowe.
POLLEN. See Bolland.
POLLEOWE or POLLCOWE. I know not the proper orthography of this name, but it is most probably Pollcowe. There is Polga in Jacobstow. Polgoda in Peransand is from pol-goda, the head of the wood; and Polgoth signifies the old pit.
POLLEY. See Polwhele.
POLLITTO. See Bolitho.
POLLOMOUNTER. See Pollamounter.
POLLYBLAND. See Polyblank.
POLLYN. From pol-lyn, the head or top of the pond or pool. There is Polean in Pelynt, which Pryce renders from pol-lean, the full pool.
POLMEAR, POLMEER, POLMERE (extinct). From pol-mear, the great pool or pit. There is Polmear Cove in Zennor.
​POLMENNA. From Polmenna in Philleigh; from pol-mean, the stony pool; pol-men, the head of the pool; or pol-minow, the small well, pit, pool, top, or head.
POLMERE. See Polmear.
POLOMOUNTER. See Pollamounter.
POLPORTH. From pol-porth, the top or head of the bay or haven. This family is extinct.
POLRUDDON. From Polruddon in St. Austell; from pol-rud-don, the head of the red hill; pol-radn, the head of the division; or pol-ruan, the river head. "Polruddon, the ruynes of an auntient howse somtymes the howse of John Polruddon, whoe was taken out of his bed by the Frenche in the time of Henry the 7, and carried away with violence, and then began the howse to decaye; and Penwarn, the howse of Mr. Otwell Hill, was buylded with Polruddon stones." (Norden.)
POLSTRONG. From pol-tron, the head of the promontory. There is however a place called Polston near Launceston.
POLSUE. From pol-sue, -sew, the black pool.
POLUND. See Bolland.
POLWARNE. From pol-warne, the pool of alders.
POLWARTH, POLWART. From pol-warth, the high head or promontory, or the high pool. "Of that ilk, in Berwickshire. The heiress married Saint Clair, temp. James III.—Nisbet." (Lower.)
POLWEL, POLWELL, POLWHEILE. See Polwhele.
POLWHELE. The name is found written POLWHEILE, POLWHYLL, POLWHYLE, POLWYL, POLWEL, POLWELL, POLHAL, POLHILL, and ​POLLEY; and is derived from Polwhele, in Domesday Polhel, a manor occupied under Edward the Confessor by Winus de Polhal (Polwel or Polwyl). Pryce derives the name Polwhele from pol-whele, the pool work; or pol-gueul, the top of the field. According to Burke, the family claims Saxon origin.
POLWIN. From Polwin in Cury; Polwin in Mawgan in Meneage; or Polwyn in Colan; from pol-wyn, the white pool, or the white head or promontory.
POLWYL, POLWHYLE, POLWHYLL. See Polwhele.
POLYBLAND. See Polyblank.
POLYBLANK. From pol-blanc, the colts' pool (blanc, the young horse). Hence Pollybland and Polybland. Pollyblank and Pulleyblank are found as Devonshire surnames.
PORTH. From porth, a gate, a sea-port, sea-coast, bay, or haven. D. Gilbert gives a place called Porth in St. Anthony in Powder. There are Port in Mawgan in Pyder, and four local names commencing with Porth.
POWDER. A name found in the United States. It is probably derived from Powder hundred in Cornwall. Pryce renders Powdar the province, country or hundred of oaks (pou-dar).
PRADE. See Praed.
PRAED, PRADE, PREAD. From prâz (Bas Bret. prâd), a meadow. There is a place named Praze in Crowan.
PRAISE. Price.
PREAD. See Praed.
PREDEANCE. From prî-dinaz, -dinas, the clay fortress or bulwark.
PREEN. See Breen.
​PRETHOWAN. See Trethoan.
PREWBODY. See Trewbody.
PRICE. The Welsh name is said to be from Ap-Rice or -Rees, son of Rice or Rees; but both names may be from Cornish prâs, a meadow. Pryce, Pryse, Brice, and the U.S. Praise would seem to be the same name. See also Rees.
PRIDEAUX (found PRYDIAUX). This ancient family are said to trace their descent from Paganus, lord of Prideaux Castle in Luxilion; from French près d'eaux, near the waters, "the sea formerly flowing up as high as this place." I have elsewhere derived this name from pratellum, dim. of pratum, a meadow; but Tonkin thinks it may also be from pri, prid, clay, and aus, the same with als, the cliff or sea-shore. Cf. my notice of the name in Notes and Queries (2nd S., No. 52, p. 512). See also D. Gilbert (iii. 56); Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men; and Lower's Patronymica Britannica.
PRIN, PRINN, PRYN, PRYNN, PRYNNE, may be the Welsh name, and if so from Ap-Rhyn, son of Rhyn. But qu. the Cornish bryn', a mountain; pren, timber, wood; prîan, clayey ground, soft clayey veins of tin, &c. Also see Resprynn.
PROUSE. See Prowse.
PROWSE, PROUSE. From prâs, a meadow; or brâs, great. If from the Welsh, perhaps from Ap-Rowse.
PRYCE. See Price.
PRYDIAUX. See Prideaux.
PRYE. This name may mean a clayey place; from pri, clay.
PRYN, PRYNN, PRYNNE. See Prin.
PRYSE. See Price.
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