Show ContentsTenner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Tenner comes from one of the family having worked as a person who worked as the local tanner. This occupational surname was originally derived from the work that the original bearer did. In this case the original bearer treated animal skins with tannin in order to prevent the skins from decomposing so that they could use the leather to produce various goods. Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.

Early Origins of the Tenner family

The surname Tenner was first found in Devon, but we must look to Normandy to find the earliest record of the family. For it is there that Hugh de Tanur made grants to the Abbey of Culture, Normandy in 1082. [1] At that time, there was a variety of early spellings including Tannour, Le Tannur, Tannator and Le Tanur. [2]

Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 would show the wide usage of the name and early variants throughout ancient Britain: Elfer Tannator, Sussex; John Tannarius, Oxfordshire; Philip le Tannour, Huntingdonshire; and Henry le Tanur, Nottinghamshire. [3]

Early History of the Tenner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tenner research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1613, 1630, 1657, 1658, 1674, 1682, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Tenner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tenner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Tenner have been found, including: Tanner, Tannor and others.

Early Notables of the Tenner family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tenner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Tenner family to Ireland

Some of the Tenner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Tenner migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Tenner, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Tenner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Benja Tenner, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 [4]
Tenner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Tenner, aged 34, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Derhardt"
  • Gottfried Tenner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1854
  • John B Tenner, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1864 [4]
  • Andrew Tenner, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1871 [4]
  • Plasidus A Tenner, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1875 [4]


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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