Peniston

The name Peniston is a habitational surname, meaning it was derived from a place name. Specifically, it comes from Penistone, a market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. The place name Penistone itself is of Old English origin, combining 'pen' (meaning 'hill' or 'headland') and 'tun' (meaning 'enclosure' or 'settlement'), with an additional element 'stan' (meaning 'stone'). Over time, the 'stan' element likely became more prominent in the interpretation, leading to the common understanding of 'settlement by the stone'.

As a surname, Peniston would have been adopted by individuals who either lived in Penistone or moved from there to another location. The transition from a place name to a surname, and subsequently to a rare given name, is a common pattern in English nomenclature. Its use as a given name is extremely uncommon and likely stems from a direct adoption of the surname.