Pen Family Crest & Name History

Spelled Pen, the surname still points back to Penn. The name is generally explained as “hill or sheep pen”. Pen drops the “n” of Penn, a shortening that clerks often made. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. You may also find the name written Penne.

1,438 Americans were listed as Pen in the 2010 census. Between 1891 and 2000, 459 babies born in France were registered as Pen, with the most births in 1981–1990. Births ran at 22 in 1891–1900 and 61 in 1991–2000.

There is no single Pen family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were. Want more than a summary? See the Pen family name pack.