Surname Tenney - Meaning and Origin

Tenney: What does the surname Tenney mean?

The surname Tenney is primarily of English origin believed to be derived from a place-name in England. It is said to come from the Old English words 'tyn,' meaning enclosure, and 'eg,' meaning island, suggesting that the original bearer of this surname came from a location that was a closed or isolated piece of land. So, it is topographic in origin, assigned to individuals who lived near this type of landmark or geographical feature. It may also be locational from any of the various locations named Tenney in England. Over time, this surname has experienced different spelling variations including Tenny, Tenney, Tennyson, and Tennison among others. In medieval times, it became common to adopt a surname for tax purposes and to distinguish between people with common forenames. As such, someone might be named John from Tenney, which was eventually shortened to John Tenney.

Tenney: Where does the name Tenney come from?

The surname Tenney is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has ties to England. It's derived from the Old English pre-7th Century personal name "Tonna," which means a barrel or cask, often used as a nickname for a rotund and robust person. Alternatively, it might also have originated from the habitation at a place named Tenney, although such a location is not evident in modern maps or historical listings. It was most likely a minor location, perhaps a farm or a hamlet that has since disappeared.

The Tenney name can still be found in the United Kingdom and the United States today. Early emigrants from England brought the surname to America, and some of the earliest settlers carrying this last name or its variants landed in Massachusetts in the 17th century. Thus, the surname is scattered around the English-speaking world with pockets of Tenneys found in America and across the United Kingdom. However, it is not a common surname in general.

Variations of the surname Tenney

The surname Tenney originated from the Old French personal name Theodoric, composed of the Germanic elements "theudo" meaning "people" or "race", and "ric" meaning "power". The surname has seen several variants and spellings over the centuries. Variations include Tenny, Tennie, Tinney, Tinni, Tinnia, Tinnie, Tinny, Teni, Tenie, Tennia, and Tennie. Another variant is Tene, although it is relatively rare.

It is also important to note that the spelling of surnames was not consistent until recent centuries, due to the lack of standardized spelling rules. Therefore, the same person's surname could appear differently in different documents. Some of the common misspellings of the surname Tenney that have been found in historical records can include Teny, Tenny, Tenee, Tenie, Tenni, and Tenny.

As a surname of French origin, Tenney is also related to other surnames that have been derived from the personal name Theodoric. Some examples might include Derricks, Dietrich, Terry, and Therry. These surnames, although spelled differently, share a common origin with the surname Tenney.

Famous people with the name Tenney

• Jonathan J. Tenney: An American actor, probably best known for his role as Fritz Howard in the TV series "The Closer" and its spinoff "Major Crimes".
• Dolly Tenney: A British silent film actress known for her appearances in the early 20th century.
• Dan Tenney: An American politician who has served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.
• John Tenney: A professional baseball outfielder, who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 1970s.
• Marshall Tenney: An American composer and music critic.
• Mary Tenney Gray: An American editor, clubwoman, suffragette, and philanthropist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Sanford Tenney: A prominent figure in 19th-century American politics, serving as a diplomat to several South American countries.
• Chesselden Ellis Tenney: An American lawyer, politician, and academic, who has served as a law professor at Columbia University.
• Samuel Tenney: A prominent American physician, politician, and author during the American Revolutionary, who became one of the founding members of the New Hampshire Medical Society.
• Frank Tenney Johnson: An American artist most famous for the "Old West" paintings which he created in the early and mid-20th century.
• Grayson Tenney: An American professional ice hockey player.

Other surnames

Tenner