Surname Pence - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
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iGENEA's comprehensive and accurate DNA test has provided a profound exploration into my ancestry and the origins of my surname, Pence. From a simple cheek swab, I have traced my lineage to the German Rhineland region and unearthed connections with a traditional cable making profession.
R. Pence
read morePence: What does the surname Pence mean?
Pence is a patronymic surname that originates from England. The name may derive from the Middle English term "pens," which means "pence." This term was often used as a nickname for a rent collector, an almoner, or a person who regularly handled money. Pence could therefore imply that the ancestors of individuals bearing this name were engaged in some form of monetary work or finance. It was not uncommon for medieval occupations or roles to turn into last names that were passed down through generations. The surname did not have any political connotations when it was first used. It has become more widely recognized in the United States recently due to Mike Pence, the former vice-president. In some cases, the surname might also have developed as a variant of the English name Penn, derived from an Old English word for hill or a habitation name from various places named Penn. As with most surnames, the specific origins can differ among families with the Pence surname, and not all Pences will necessarily share the same lineage or roots.
Order DNA origin analysisPence: Where does the name Pence come from?
The last name Pence is most notably associated with the current vice president of the United States, Mike Pence. The Pence surname is also highly concentrated in the midwest of the United States, particularly the states of Indiana, West Virginia, and Missouri.
The Pence surname originated in Germany, where it is still common today. It is also found in the United Kingdom (mainly in England), Ireland, and Scotland. In the United States, most people with the Pence surname have ancestries from Europe, including German and English backgrounds.
The Pence surname is also found in small numbers throughout various other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia, and South America. In some areas, such as Canada, were the surname is also spelled as “Pence” or “Pencz.”
The Pence surname is tied to various notable historical figures, including David Pence from France (1755-1792) and E. John Pence from America (1827-1904). Its current namesake, Mike Pence, is the highest-ranked person in the world to bear the name.
Overall, the Pence surname has a long and interesting history and is largely found in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It is a part of the heritage of many people around the world, and a reminder of the notable accomplishments of its famous namesake.
Variations of the surname Pence
The variants, spellings, and surnames that are related to Pence are as follows:
Pennce, Pencce, Penice, Pince, Pinche, Penche, Pennze, Pennse, Pennce, Pense, Pinse, Pine, Pinnce, Pons, Pontes, and Pontis.
Pence is a surname of multiple origins across multiple continents. One of the common sources of the Pence surname is Germanic and refers to "gentleman" or someone of a more high-standing. Pence is a variation of "Bunt" or "Bünte" which was a nickname for someone's good manners. In another variant, Pence is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "penner" describing a scribe or clerk who made pens.
A small portion of the Pence surname can be traced back to pgaeven origins in the UK. From Welsh tradition, Pence translates to "the head of the valley" or "the end of the valley". Pence is also believed to be a shortened form of the surname Pembridge—the name of a village near Hereford, in the UK.
In the UK, the Pence name is most closely associated with Yorkshire and Lancashire while in the United States the Pence surname is most strongly associated with the Midwest— Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Pence is also a surname of Italian origin and is derived from the Latin word pons, meaning "bridge". The corresponding surname is Pontes. In addition, the Italian pronunciation of Pence is "pon-che," which produces the variants Pinse, Pine, and Pinche. In Spanish, Pence translates to "pontis" which produces the variant Pons.
Famous people with the name Pence
- Mike Pence: 46th Vice President of the United States, from 2017 to 2021.
- Gregory Pence: United States Congressman and brother of former Vice President Mike Pence.
- Audrey Pence: daughter of former Vice President Mike Pence and an Emmy Award-winning journalist.
- Charlotte Pence: daughter of former Vice President Mike Pence and an author.
- John Henry Pence: American vaudeville performer and silent-film actor in the 1910s and 1920s.
- David F. Pence: American politician in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
- P. Ernest Pence: mayor of Cleveland, Tennessee, from 1961 to 1965.
- Richard Michael Pence: United States district judge for the Western District of Arkansas.
- Amy Coney Barrett: United States Supreme Court Associate Justice and former clerk to the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
- Ryan Michael Pence: American voice actor.