Pfenning

Pfenning is a German surname, derived from the Old High German pfenning, meaning "penny" or "coin". The name originated as a metonymic occupational or descriptive surname for someone involved in minting, tax collection, or feudal financial obligations. In medieval Germany, the pfennig was the standard silver coin and also a unit of account used for monetary transactions and tax assessments.

The surname is a variant of Pfennig (also spelled Pfenninger), which appears in historical records as a reference to the coin itself. The English equivalent is Penny, though the name in German-speaking regions carries specific regional and feudal connotations.

Notable bearers

• Frank Pfenning (born 1960), American professor of computer science specializing in logic and verification.
• Werner Pfennig (1937–2008), German trade unionist and politician.

Key facts:

• Meaning: "penny, coin" in Old High German
• Origin and type: German surname (occupational or descriptive)
• Usage regions: German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)