Pence
A surname likely born as a medieval nickname or byname, probably connected with the word for small coin or an amount of money.
The #2,965 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 25,514 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is most likely from Middle English pence, the plural of penny, ultimately from Old English pening/pennig. In medieval records, surnames could arise from nicknames, payments, or other money-related associations, so the name may originally have referred to someone linked with a small sum, a coin count, or a comparable pointed nickname. Because the historical evidence is thin, the exact motivation for the surname is uncertain.
History
The excerpts show that Bardsley treated Pence-like forms as part of a broader group of medieval “money names,” alongside surnames such as Fivepence, Fourpence, and Ninepence. That makes it clear the form fits an established English surname pattern, even if the specific story behind Pence itself is not recorded. The name survives in modern English-speaking countries, especially the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley noted that playful or money-based surnames such as Fivepence, Fourpence, and Ninepence really did occur in medieval and later records.
From the historical record
“Ranger [M.E. ridere, rydere; O.E. ridere] I geve thee eightene pence a day. And my bowe shalt thou here ; 4.nd over all the north countre 1 make thee chyfe rydere. —”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Pence
- Mike Pence (b. 1959)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.