Meaning and history
Pleasance is a medieval English feminine name from Old French plaisance, meaning “pleasure,” “delight,” or “pleasantness.” It belongs to the tradition of names expressing admired qualities and was used in medieval and early modern Britain. The form also appears in place names and surnames. A notable bearer was British suffragette Pleasance Pendred, imprisoned for militant activism. The name is distinct from the modern English adjective pleasant but shares the same linguistic family.