Find out how popular the last name Tenney is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tenney.

Tenney, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tenney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tenney in America

Tenney is the 4868th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tenney surname appeared 7,238 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tenney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tenney to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tenney

The surname Tenney originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tun," meaning an enclosed village, and "ey," meaning an island or piece of dry land. The name may have referred to someone who lived in a village on an island or near a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England conducted in 1086 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Teodric de Tenia, which is likely an early spelling variation of Tenney.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the county of Essex, where it was often spelled as "Teneye" or "Tenye." This region was known for its numerous islands and marshlands, which may have contributed to the name's origin.

Over the centuries, the Tenney family dispersed throughout England, with some members settling in other parts of the country. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Tenney (1523-1590), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Worcestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was John Tenney (1638-1690), an early settler in New England who immigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1638. He became a successful farmer and landowner in the town of Rowley, and many of his descendants went on to play significant roles in the development of the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the name was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Tennant." One notable Scot was Sir James Tennant (1789-1854), a successful industrialist and businessman who founded the Tennant Company, a leading manufacturer of cleaning equipment.

Throughout history, the Tenney surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, trade, and industry. It has also been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in fields such as politics, military service, and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tenney

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tenney.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tenney was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tenney has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Tenney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tenney, please contact us.

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