We will be adding information to this page regularly. Please feel free to visit often as we add useful information and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

If you have any questions, please send them to Gene Pennington, Research Director.

How can I find out which Family Group I belong to?

The original Pennington Family Group assignments were first designated some 30 years ago at the start of the Pennington Research Association. Constant genealogical study over the years reveals that certain groups can be combined when a common ancestor is found. This genealogical study continues. So our Family Groups represent the genealogical work done to date. Likewise, each researcher must engage in this process as well. Please note that any information you find at the Pennington Research Association website is NOT proven and is provided to help you with your research. You must conduct your own research to verify the information.

Like you, the Pennington Research Association is actively engaged in the genealogical study of the Pennington Family. We are working to update our Family Groups. This is a painstaking process and will require many hours of work. We really need more help to move this process along. We need Family Group Leaders to help with this research.

As a service to new members we will try with the available resources we have to place you with an established group; however, we are not always able to establish this link.

If you will e-mail your genealogy report, in descendant format starting with the oldest known Pennington ancestor, send them Gene Pennington, Research Director, he will check it against our database of Family Groups. If we can find a possible link, you will be advised of which Family Group you may belong to.

Another method which has proved to very successful is to check the old issues of Pennington Pedigrees. Once you have identified some information which is part of your genealogy research, contact the person/s who contributed the information. If you do not have the old issues, you can order back issues by visiting our Publications page.

A great source of help is to join the PRA Mail List. Click here to learn how join the PRA official mail list.

Many researchers have achieved outstanding results by interviewing the older generations of their family and recording or writing what they know. Even though their recall may not be l00% accurate, there is usually a grain of truth in what they say. This may also reveal some unknown parts of your family history which can add real adventure to your search and bring your family history to life.

Return to Top of Page

To join the Pennington Research Association simple complete an online membership application and either pay by check/debit card or by check. 

If you have any questions, please contact Melinda Pennington, Membership Chair. 

Return to Top of Page

Is there any requirement to join the Pennington Research Association?

Just an interest in researching the Pennington surname and related surnames. The applicant can be a resident of any state in the U.S. or any nation of the world. In fact, the Pennington Research Association currently has about 400 members representing the United States, Canada, England, New Zealand and Australia.

Return to Top of Page

No. Membership applications are accepted year round. New members who submit dues and application prior to September 15 each year will receive all of that year's publications and access to the PRA member's only website.  After September 15, the dues will be applied to the next calendar year.

Return to Top of Page

Return to Top of Page

Does the Pennington Research Association accept membership applications online?

Yes.  Click Here for a Membership Application Form.

Return to Top of Page

Pennington Research Association membership dues are $27 for a one year membership. Your membership entitles you to receive two CDs of the Pennington Pedigrees each year you belong to the PRA.  Your membership also gives you access to the PRA Member's only website.  Click here to learn more.

Return to Top of Page

There are a number of Pennington ancestors and Family Group progenitors on our website.  For example, go to our Family Group page and you will see a summary description of each Family Group.  Many of these Family Groups are linked to websites maintained by the Group Leaders.  The PRA maintains a master database (JFMF) of approximately 78,000 names but it is not available online except to PRA Members who access the PRA Members only website.

Return to Top of Page

The Pennington Research Association's official Coat of Arms is not available for sale.  It is a unique Coat of Arms and owned by the Pennington Research Association.  Under specific circumstances, PRA members may request approval from the Pennington Research Association to use the official Coat of Arms.  If you would like to use the PRA Coat of Arms, please contact the Pennington Research Association.

By special arrangement, the PRA has a set of Coat of Arms that were designed by Michael Pennington.  He has given his consent for these graphic images to be used by Pennington researchers.  These Coat of Arms graphics were created by him and are based on the official PRA Coat of Arms but he has added more color and depth to them and made them in "gif" format so they are easier to download.

Click here to view Mike Pennington's Coat of Arms and to download them.

Click here to read some interesting articles on heraldry.

Return to Top of Page

The three words on the scroll of the Coat of Arms are "Vincit amor patriae"

1. "Vincit amor patriae" means "The love of my country prevails."
2. "Vincent amor patriae laudumque immensa cupido" means "The love of my country exceeds everything."

The following motto appears in English above the mountain cat of the original Baron Muncaster Crest.

Click here to read an interesting article on heraldry.