Surname Pelling - Meaning and Origin
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Pelling: What does the surname Pelling mean?
The surname Pelling is of English origin and its first known recordings date back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pile", meaning a stake or post, and "ing", denoting a place or people. Hence, it could suggest someone who lived near a significant post or marker, essentially meaning 'people of the stake.'
It is also thought to be a topographic surname for someone who lived in a fortified place. Some sources suggest that the surname could be related to a place in Surrey known as Pelling, which was once a fortified area.
It's important to note that surnames often took various forms and evolved over centuries. Variations of Pelling include Pilling, Pyling, Pellinge and others. Remember, interpretation of surname meanings should be taken cautiously as it's often the product of historical and linguistic interpretation.
Order DNA origin analysisPelling: Where does the name Pelling come from?
The last name Pelling is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It is mainly found within England, with some occurrences in Scotland and Wales. Records from the 1891 United Kingdom census lists Pelling as one of the top 100 last names. In that same census it was noted that the most frequent locations of the name were in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Middlesex, and Gloucestershire.
Family history websites suggest that the surname originated in either East Anglia or the West Midlands and can be traced back to the Plantagenet period from the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the occupation of the hedge puller, being derived from the Anglo-Saxon plegian to pull.
Due to emigration to other parts of the world, particularly during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the last name has spread in other locations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In other countries, the spelling has been known to change slightly to Pilling and Peelings.
Variations of the surname Pelling
The surname Pelling is most commonly found in England and Wales and can have a variety of spellings, including Peling, Pelling, Pellin, Pilling and Pellon. The name likely derives from a variety of different sources, including Old English and Norman origins.
The Old English root of the name Pelling is derived from the Old English word 'pell', which translates to mean 'skin'. As such, the surname Pelling likely originally referred to someone who was a skinner or a tanner. The name may also be derived from a place name, like 'Pelham', which is derived from the Old English words 'pel' meaning 'frog' and 'ham' meaning 'village'.
The Norman origins of the name Pelling likely derive from a location in Northern France, namely 'Péloigné' in Normandy. The surname Pelling may also be derived from a shortened form of the Old French name 'Poilen', meaning 'blondet'.
While the surname Pelling is found in England and Wales, some versions of the name may be found elsewhere in the world. Variations such as Pellin, Pilling and Pellon are especially popular in Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Canada and the United States.
On some occasions, the surname Pelling can even be found spelled as Paling, Pelham or Peeling. In Germany, a form of the name exists as Pelian, and in some Scandinavian countries, one may find the variant Pelin.
Famous people with the name Pelling
- William Pelling: a British Member of Parliament who served in the House of Commons from 1924-37.
- Stephen Pelling: a British golfer who won the 2004 Italian Open.
- Sandy Pelling: a former leader of the City of Westminster Council.
- Lawrence Pelling: a British mathematician and philosopher who worked on the history of mathematics.
- Tony Pelling: a former English cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club.
- Michael Pelling: a Norwegian xenobiologist who is known for his research on the immune system.
- Christopher Pelling: a British classical scholar and professor of Greek at the University of Oxford.
- Matthew Pelling: an English footballer who plays for Bristol Rovers.
- Robyn Pelling: an Australian actress, singer and voice-over artist.
- John Pelling: an American professional golfer who was the winner of the 1983 Canadian Open.