Pinner was first recorded in 1231 as ’Pinnora’. The already archaic -ora (meaning ’hill’) suggests its origins lie no later than c.900 AD. The name Pinn is shared with the River Pinn, which runs through the area.

The oldest part of Pinner lies around the fourteenth-century parish church of St John the Baptist. The earliest surviving private dwelling is East End Farm Cottage, which dates from the late fifteenth century.

Pinner has had an annual street fair held in May since 1336, when it was granted by Royal Charter by Edward III.

Pinner station was opened in 1885 on the Metropolitan Railway and was one of the stations in the early 20th century Metro-land project.

The village expanded rapidly between 1923 and 1939 when a series of garden estates, including the architecturally-significant Pinnerwood estate grew around its historic core. Pinner contains a large number of homes built in the 1930s Art Deco style.