This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Petronilla.' This was abbreviated to Paronel, and then to Parnel or Pernel. One of our commonest girl-names, it lost character, like Nan and Nanny, by becoming a cant term for women of III repute. 'Parnel, a lascivious girl' (Bailey). Halliwell says, 'Pernel, the pimpernel, a flower that always shuts up its blossoms before rain.' Then he quotes, 'But these tender pernels must have one gown for the day, another for the night': Pilkington's Works. But is not the Puritan bishop referring to Pernel in the sense ascribed above? Endless instances might be given of the name in its earlier and more honest popularity. As usual, Cornwall kept to the name long after it had been given up by the rest of the world:

1706. Baptised — Peternell Michell: Reg. St. Columb Major, Cornwall.

1714. — Petronell Peters: ibid.

St. Petronilla was besought for fevers. Barnyby Googe says: 'The quartane ague and the rest doth Pernell take away: And John preserves his worshippers From prison every day.'

Petronilla de le Le, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Pernel Clere, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

William Peronel, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Alexander Pernel, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Johannes Peronele, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.Stolen from Fore-bears

Ricardus Jannel et Paronel, uxor ejus, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1528-9. John Thomplynson and Parnell Saunder: Marriage Lic. (London).

1680. Baptised — Robert, s. Arthur and Parnell Dogood: St. Mary Aldermary.

(Anglo-French-Greek) formerly Pernel(e, French Pernel, Peronel (m.), Pernelle, Peronelle (from), the latter Latinized as Petronella or Petronilla, all diminutive forms of Peter (French Père, Pierre), q.v.

Pernel Clere.—Hundred Rolls William Peronel.—Hundred Rolls Pernele Proud-herte Platte hire [threw herself down] to the erthe.—Piers Plowman, 2599-2600.

Parnel(l went out of fashion as a female Christian name owing to its gradually becoming unfavourably connected with the sex— ‘Parnel (Ital. Petronella). A slut; a loose girl.’—Prov. Dict., ed. T. Wright.

Per(r)oneau (-eau for earlier diminutive -el, m.) is a rather rare surname in France, as also is Périneau; the forms with the dims. -et, -ot being much commoner.

Old English, Pernel, for Petronilla, a female name. In old times the word was used to designate "a lascivious woman, a confident girl." Bailey. See Female Christian Names.

The same as Pernell, from Petronilla, Italian, pretty stone. A wanton, immodest girl.

In this county the Parnells have their home in the Totnes district. William Parnell was a well - to - do Barnstaple townsman, in the reign of Charles I. (G.). The Parnells are now principally seated in Devon and Cornwall, but there are a few in Cambridgeshire.