The name can mean little hillock from the Celtic "pennuc" or "pennoc" but also a possibility of a nickname of someone who may have resembled a hedge sparrow from Middle English. It originates from the Gloucestershire area of the United Kingdom and has been recorded as "Pinnok" as far back as 1248, other spelling variations to much earlier. Also associated with the English County of Cornwall, where there is a small hamlet with the name St. Pinnock. There are many variations of this as Pinock, Pinnick, Pinnocke, Pennick.
Pinnock is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Andrew Pinnock (born 1980) - American football player
Anna Pinnock - set decorator
Annie Pinnock Malin (1863-1935) - Latter Day Saint author and hymnwriter
Arnold Pinnock - Canadian actor
Chris Pinnock (born 1979) - Jamaican hurdler
Clark Pinnock (born 1937) - Canadian theologian
Hugh W. Pinnock (1934-2000) - Latter-day Saint leader
Kath Pinnock, Baroness Pinnock of Cleckheaton, (born 1946) - British politician
J. R. Pinnock (born 1983) - American basketball player
James Pinnock (born 1978) - English footballer
Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Member of British four-piece girl group Little Mix
Osbern Pinnock of Gloucester (1123-1200) - English monk and lexicographical writer
Pam Pinnock (born 1973) - American author and publicist
Saint Pinnock (generally known as Winnoc) (c.640-716/717) - a Breton or Welsh saint, prior of Wormhout
Sherene Pinnock (born 1987) - Jamaican hurdler
Thomas G. Pinnock (died 1914) - Massachusetts politician
Trevor Pinnock (born 1946) - English harpsichordist and conductor
William Pinnock (1782-1843) - British publisher
Winsome Pinnock (born 1961) - British playwright
