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

Tennin, 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 Tennin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tennin in America

Tennin is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tennin surname appeared 105 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 Tennin.

The history of the last name Tennin

The surname TENNIN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning a farm or settlement, and "hine" meaning a servant or worker. The combination of these words suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked on a farm or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TENNIN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Tunhine." This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 13th century in the region of Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the surname TENNIN appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it was spelled as "Tunhyne." This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local pronunciation and scribal interpretation.

During the 15th century, the name TENNIN gained prominence with notable individuals bearing the surname. One such figure was John TENNIN, who was born in Somerset around 1420 and served as a member of the local gentry. His descendants continued to use the surname, and some records from the 16th century mention a Thomas TENNIN, a landowner in Gloucestershire, born in 1532.

In the 17th century, the TENNIN surname was present in various parts of England, with records mentioning individuals such as William TENNIN (1603-1678), a successful merchant in London, and Richard TENNIN (1645-1712), a prominent clergyman and author from Oxfordshire.

As the surname spread across England, it also underwent further spelling variations, with forms like "Tennant" and "Tennent" becoming more common. One notable figure from this period was Sir James TENNIN (1672-1745), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as a member of the British Parliament.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the TENNIN surname continued to be represented in various fields, including literature, with writers such as Mary TENNIN (1778-1838), a renowned poet from Cornwall, and academics like John TENNIN (1806-1879), a respected professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

It is important to note that while these examples provide insights into the history and distribution of the TENNIN surname, the name's origins and evolution may vary across different regions and families. The study of surnames is a complex field, and additional research may uncover further details about the TENNIN surname's journey through history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tennin

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

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 Tennin 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.

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

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

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