311 Global HALFPENNY Family Members

HALFPENNY Family History

This most interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a nickname surname given to someone who had to pay the rent of one half penny, from the Olde English pre 7th Century elements "healf", half, and "penig, pening", a penny. The first regular issues of round halfpence were made in the reign of Edward 1. Before this, there had been sporadic issues, but the term was originally used to denote a silver penny that had been literally and legally cut in half to provide smaller change. The nickname may also have been bestowed on a poor man, someone who had few possessions...