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

Tennie, 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 Tennie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tennie in America

Tennie is the 73666th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tennie surname appeared 263 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tennie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tennie 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 Tennie

The surname Tennie is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the late 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tennen," which referred to a small enclosure or plot of land. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived on or worked a small plot of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tennie surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, a collection of financial records maintained by the English Crown, dating back to the year 1195. The name is listed as "Tenni," which is likely an early spelling variation.

In the 13th century, the Tennie name appeared in various historical documents, including the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1246, where a certain "Richard Tenni" was mentioned. This record provides evidence that the name had begun to spread and establish itself in the region.

During the 14th century, the surname Tennie continued to be recorded in various Yorkshire records, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which listed a "Johannes Tenny" from the village of Ripon.

One notable figure bearing the Tennie surname was Sir William Tennie (c. 1450-1512), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Yorkshire. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another individual of historical significance was John Tennie (c. 1520-1585), a Protestant reformer and Church of England clergyman who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Tennie surname appeared in the records of the Hearth Tax of 1672, which listed several households with the name in various villages across Yorkshire, such as Knaresborough and Ripon.

One notable bearer of the Tennie name during this period was Richard Tennie (1635-1705), a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of York. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches and charitable institutions in the area.

Another significant figure was Elizabeth Tennie (1670-1745), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Yorkshire. She traveled extensively, preaching and writing on religious matters, and her works were widely read and influential within the Quaker community.

Throughout the centuries, the Tennie surname has maintained a strong presence in Yorkshire and other parts of northern England, with various spelling variations emerging over time, such as Tenny, Tennye, and Tenney. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, merchants, and authors, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tennie

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

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 Tennie 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 Tennie 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 Tennie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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