Where does “Penzance” come from?

Penzance is an English place name derived from Cornish Pennsans, a toponym of unknown etymology.

Penzance (English): OS grid ref SW4730

Definitions

  1. OS grid ref SW4730

Ancestry of “Penzance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1CornishPennsans—
2Cornishpennhead; top; end
3Middle Cornishpen—
4Old Cornishpenhead
5Proto-Brythonicpennhead
6Proto-Celtickʷennomhead
Every word from Proto-Celtic kʷennom →Every word from Proto-Brythonic penn →Every word from Old Cornish pen →