pennowe

Pennowe is a toponym and surname used in English-speaking regions. In place-name studies, Pennowe appears as a historical element in parish and estate names and is often associated with rural landscapes in parts of England and Wales. While the precise meaning of Pennowe is uncertain, it is generally thought to derive from Old English elements such as pen or pinnacle meaning a hill or enclosure, and howe or ow meaning a hill, water meadow, or similar land feature observed at a site.

Historically, forms of the name appear in land grants, parish records, and estate papers, sometimes as part of a longer name such as Pennowe Farm or Pennowe Manor. Over time, many such places have been absorbed into larger administrative units, and the modern use of the name survives mainly in local histories and genealogical sources.

As a surname, Pennowe has appeared in English-language genealogical records as a toponymic family name, typically indicating origin from a place named Pennowe or a nearby feature. Bearers of the surname have been documented in Britain and North America, though it remains relatively uncommon.

Related spellings and variants include Pennow, Penhow, and Pennowe in historic orthography. The term thus has multiple minor references rather than a single, widely defined entity. For precise information, consult regional historic records or name-etymology references.