Surname Penella - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Penella: What does the surname Penella mean?
The last name Penella is of Spanish origin and it does not have a specific meaning in English. Like many surnames, Penella might be geographical in nature, linked to a specific location. It first seems to emerge from the Catalonia region in Northeast Spain. There, the surname is more commonly seen in comparison to other parts of Spain. Alternatively, Penella may have been associated with a trade or profession in the past. Spanish surnames often hold historical meanings that relate to lineage, occupation, or location. However, specific meanings of such surnames can be difficult to pinpoint precisely without detailed genealogical research. Prominent bearers of the surname include Spanish actor Manuel Penella and Italian actress Franca Penella. Although its specific meaning isn't clear, its cultural and historical relevance remains intact.
Order DNA origin analysisPenella: Where does the name Penella come from?
The surname Penella is most commonly found in the regions of Spain and Italy today. In Spain, the name is most often found in the provinces of Alicante, Castellon, and Valencia. In Italy, the name is more evenly distributed throughout the country, with the majority found in the southern regions such as Abruzzo, Campania, Lazio, and Calabria.
In the United States, the surname Penella is relatively rare but can be found in certain areas with a history of Italian and Spanish immigrants. California is home to the highest number of Penellas, followed by New York, Arizona, New Jersey, and Florida. The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada also have small numbers of people with the Penella surname.
The Penella surname is an ancient one, tracing its origins to Italy in the late 14th century. It is thought to have first developed as a nickname for a person who was tall or thin in figure. Other records indicate that it could have derived as an occupational name for a painter or artist.
The name Penella is likely to have been adopted relatively recently from other countries, given its lack of wider widespread distribution outside of Italy and Spain. The number of people with the Penella surname is likely to have grown only in the past century or two as people with this particular name moved around the world.
Variations of the surname Penella
The surname Penella is part of the Pen name family, which is widespread in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. It is most likely of Italian origin and comes from the Latin word penna meaning "feather".
Variants of the surname Penella include Penali, Penalla, Pennella, Penelli and Pennello. These versions are mostly found in Italy, where the surname is most prevalent.
In Spain, the variants Penaille, Peney, Penne, Penneyize, Penni, Peny and Penyar can be found. Penella is also used in Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil, where it is spelled Peneli or Penel.
In France, the spelling is changed to Pennel, Pennelclass or Pennelier, while the spelling Pennelas is found elsewhere in Europe, mainly in France and Belgium.
The surnames Peneleau, Penelot, Peneloux, Penemuel and Penual can also be found around the world. It is also common to find the variants Penia, Penica, Penilla and Penyur in Spanish speaking countries.
In America, some variants of the surname Penella are Pennello, Pennello, Pennella, Penniello, Pennino and Pennisi. When considering all of the spellings and variants, it is clear that this surname is widely used and found in many different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Penella
- Vic Penella: Former professional soccer player for Barcelona FC.
- Paul Penella: American jazz guitarist, composer and teacher.
- Mariery Young: Venezuelan journalist and anchor for CNN en Español.
- Roberto Penella: Former professional soccer player who played in multiple Italian clubs.
- Andrés Penella: Spanish politician and father of Vic Penella.
- Jesús Penella: Spanish concert violinist and composer.
- Ángel Penella: Venezuelan actor who has appeared in multiple television shows.
- Diego Penella: Argentinian actor and television host.
- Juan de Dios Penella: Spanish composer and conductor.
- Nicholás Penella: Venezuelan journalist and television news presenter.