Tenut History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Tenut is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Tenut family lived in Sussex. The family was originally from D'Anet, in Normandy, 1 which is now home to the Château d'Anet, a château near Dreux, built by Philibert de l'Orme from 1547 to 1552.

Early Origins of the Tenut family

The surname Tenut was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat from very early times. However, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 record the first listings of the name: Alicia Denet in Bedfordshire; and Robert Dynot in Oxfordshire. 2 Regardless of this early roll, Sussex has traditionally held the greatest listings of the name through history.

Early History of the Tenut family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tenut research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1559, 1566, 1593, 1600, 1601, 1612, 1620, 1645, 1655 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Tenut History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tenut Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Dennette, Dennett, Denett, Dennet, Denet and others.

Early Notables of the Tenut family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Danett (fl. 1566-1601), English author of the following works:— 1. ‘The Description of the Low Countreys and of the Prouinces thereof, gathered into an Epitome out of the Historie of Lodouico Guicchardini,’ London, 1593, dedicated to Lord Burghley. 2. ‘A...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tenut Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tenut family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Tenut or a variant listed above: John Dennett who settled in Maine in 1630; Samuel Dennett and his wife Susannah arrived in west New Jersey in 1664; Alexander Dennett arrived in Maine in 1630.

The Tenut 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: Per Dei providentiam
Motto Translation: By God's providence.

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)