The Penrose Family History

What Does the Penrose Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Penrose, which is of English and Welsh origin, derives from the Celtic components 'pen' and 'ros,' signifying the summit or extremity of a moorland or hilly region. Variations in spelling for Penrose include Penros, Penrows, and Penrowes. In England, the majority of Penrose families trace their roots to the southwestern county of Cornwall. Meanwhile, in the United States, the earliest Penrose families settled in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Noteworthy individuals bearing this surname include Jonathan Penrose, an esteemed English chess grandmaster; Boies Penrose, a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania known for accompanying the Liberty Bell on its national tour in 1915; Roger Penrose, who shared the Wolf Prize in Physics in 1988; and Roland Penrose, a notable English poet, artist, and historian.