Show ContentsTennyson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Tennyson

What does the name Tennyson mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Tennyson 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 Tennyson family

The surname Tennyson 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 Tennyson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tennyson research. Another 82 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 Tennyson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tennyson Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Tennyson has appeared include Tennyson, Tenison, Tennison and others.

Early Notables of the Tennyson family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tennyson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tennyson Ranking

the United States, the name Tennyson is the 6,675th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Tennyson family to Ireland

Some of the Tennyson 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.


Tennyson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet
  • Mr. George Tennyson, (Tennison), (b. 1776), aged 14, British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Tennyson (post 1700) +

  • Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), 1st Baron Tennyson, English Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, the fourth of twelve children of the Rev. Dr. George Clayton Tennyson, rector of Somersby, a village in North Lincolnshire
  • Mildred Tennyson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1972
  • Lionel Tennyson (1889-1951), 3rd Baron Tennyson, English cricketer
  • Hallam Tennyson (1852-1928), 2nd Baron Tennyson, second Governor-General of Australia
  • Nick Tennyson, American politician, former mayor of Durham, North Carolina
  • Pen Tennyson (1912-1941), British film director
  • David Tennyson (b. 1960), 6th Baron Tennyson
  • Harold Tennyson (1919-1991), 4th Baron Tennyson
  • Emily Tennyson (1813-1896), Baroness Tennyson, wife of Alfred Tennyson


The Tennyson 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: Nil Temere
Motto Translation: Not Rashly.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships


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