Tennant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Tennant. It is a name for someone who works as a tenant farmer. The name was applied to those who paid for the rent on their land through working the fields and donating a percentage of the take to the landlord. 1 2 3 4
Early Origins of the Tennant family
The surname Tennant was first found in Linlithgowshire (Gaelic: Lodainn an Iar), former county in south-central Scotland, now the Council Area West Lothian, where they held a family seat at Crestone or Creston from about the year 1150 A.D.
Early records in Scotland include: William tenant of Crestone of county of Linlescu, 1296. His seal shows a large dog and 'S' Will'l Tenavont.' Thomas Tenaunt was one of the witnesses in the inquiry concerning the Templars in 1309, and John tenant was one of the garrison of Edinburgh Castle, (1339-1340.) John Tennand was one of the burgesses of Stirling who attacked the cruives and fishings of the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth, 1366. 5
A little further to the south in England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Willelmus Tenaunt; Johannes Tenant; and Ricardus Tenaunt. 6
The Subsidy Rolls of Cumbria (Cumberland) in 1332 included Richard Tenand and in the same year, Robert Tenaunt was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire. 7
Early History of the Tennant family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tennant research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1320, 1339, 1366, 1500, 1519, 1539, 1542, 1549, 1550, 1555, 1563, 1564, 1565, 1644, 1649, 1673, 1695, 1706, 1718, 1727, 1740, 1746, 1748, 1761, 1768, 1777, 1781, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1788, 1789, 1796, 1799, 1801, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1815, 1821, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1831, 1832, 1838, 1848, 1854, 1861 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Tennant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tennant Spelling Variations
Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Tennant has been spelled Tennant, tenant, Tennand, Tennan, Tenman, Tennend, Tennent, Tenand and many more.
Early Notables of the Tennant family
Notable amongst the family at this time was John Tennent of Listonshiels (died c. 1549), a servant and companion of James V of Scotland; and William Tennent (1673-1746), an early American religious leader and educator in British North America. Born in Mid Calder, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, he graduated from the University of Edinburgh in...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tennant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tennant Ranking
In the United States, the name Tennant is the 3,623rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 8
Migration of the Tennant family to Ireland
Some of the Tennant family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tennant migration to the United States +
For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:
Tennant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Christopher Tennant, who landed in Virginia in 1635 9
Tennant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- James Tennant, who arrived in Virginia in 1708 9
- David, Judith and Rebecca Tennant, who all, who arrived in Charlestown, South Carolina in 1766
- William Tennant, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1776
Tennant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- John Tennant, who landed in Delaware in 1800 9
- Robert Tennant, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1810 9
- William Tennant, who arrived in New York in 1810 9
Tennant Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- David Tennant, aged 26, who landed in America from Rutherglen, in 1903
- Arthur Tennant, aged 4, who settled in America from Scotland, in 1909
- Amy Tennant, aged 23, who landed in America from Cambnstang, Scotland, in 1910
- Annie Tennant, aged 38, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1912
- Alexander Tennant, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1912
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Tennant migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Tennant Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- James Tennant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Tennant migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Tennant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Richard Tennant, (b. 1800), aged 31, English miner who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1840 10
- John Tennant, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 11
- Jessie Tennant, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 11
- Margaret Tennant, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 11
- Elizabeth Tennant, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 11
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Tennant migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Tennant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. John Tennant, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamora" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th March 1859 12
- Mr. Thomas Tennant, (b. 1838), aged 23, Irish farm labourer, from Carlow travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 12
- Mr. John Tennant, (b. 1840), aged 21, Irish farm labourer, from Carlow travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 12
- E. G. Tennant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1870
Contemporary Notables of the name Tennant (post 1700) +
- Donald G Tennant (1922-2001), American advertising executive, who invented "Tony the Tiger" and the "Marlboro Man"
- Natalie E. Tennant, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 2004, 2008; Secretary of State of West Virginia; Elected 2012
- Leslie E. Tennant, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 37th District, 1936
- John R. Tennant, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1900
- James B. Tennant, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 11th District, 1889-90
- J. L. Tennant, American politician, Representative from Iowa 6th District, 1938
- Hale Tennant, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1932
- George H. Tennant, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1952
- George G. Tennant, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1900-02
- Arthur Tennant, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from New Haven, 1910, 1912
- ... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Tennant family +
The Tennant Motto +
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: Plena Dabit Deus Vela
Motto Translation: God will fill our sails.
Citations +
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp