| ![Show Contents]() Tenison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The generations and branches of the Tenison family share a name that has its roots in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name Tenison comes from the baptismal name for the son of Dennis, which was originally derived from the Latin Dionysius. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. Early Origins of the Tenison familyThe surname Tenison was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Early History of the Tenison familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tenison research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1636, 1640, 1642, 1644, 1645, 1673, 1685, 1694, 1697, 1698, 1705, 1714, 1715, 1735, 1809 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Tenison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Tenison Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Tenison include Tennyson, Tenison, Tennison and others. Early Notables of the Tenison familyDistinguished members of the family include - Thomas Tenison (1636-1715), Archbishop of Canterbury, who crowned Queen Anne and King George...
- His grandfather, John Tenison (d. 1644), divine, the son of Christopher Tenison by his wife Elizabeth, was a fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge...
 Migration of the Tenison family to Ireland
Some of the Tenison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 152 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Tenison migration to the United States | + |
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Tenison or a variant listed above:
Tenison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John R. Tenison, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1850
| Tenison migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Tenison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- John W. Tenison, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Tenison (post 1700) | + |
- Rosie Tenison (b. 1968), American model and actress, identical twin sister of Renee Tenison
- Renee Tenison (b. 1968), American model and actress
- Thomas Tenison (1636-1715), English theologian
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Nil Temere
Motto Translation: Not Rashly.
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Tenison migration to the United States 
Tenison migration to Australia 
England
Ireland
