UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name meaning a valley or river bank.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Tenn surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Felkirk, Tamworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tenn is 114 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 283.3%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1891
114 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tenn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tenn surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 57 | #26,718 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 53 | #32,674 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 56 | #33,264 |
| 2006 | modern | 54 | #33,780 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Felkirk, Tamworth, London parishes, St Leonard Bromley and Aberystruth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felkirk | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Tamworth | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tenn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tenn, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tenn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tenn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tenn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tenn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tenn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tenn is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from various place names in England that contained the Old English word "denn," meaning a pasture or a wooded valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tenn surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a person named Walter de Denne. This suggests that the name may have originated in areas like Gloucestershire or neighboring counties where similar place names existed.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are references to individuals with the surnames Attedene and de la Dene, which are likely variations of the same locational name. These records provide valuable insights into the evolution of the surname over time.
The Domesday Book, the famous survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Tenn surname. However, it does mention several places with names containing the element "denn," such as Dene in Hampshire and Dennes in Suffolk, further supporting the locational origin of the name.
One notable historical figure with the surname Tenn was John Tenn, a English merchant and Member of Parliament for Westbury in the late 16th century (born around 1540, died circa 1610). Another was William Tenn, a renowned English printer and publisher who lived in the early 17th century (born around 1585, died 1648).
In the 18th century, there was a Thomas Tenn (1721-1795), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge. A century later, George Tenn (1819-1894) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era.
One of the most notable individuals with the Tenn surname was Sir James Tenn (1875-1955), a British civil engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the automotive industry in the early 20th century, working closely with companies like Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tenn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 11 Tenns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 6.26x |
| Essex | 5 | 14.43x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.91x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 8.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chipping Ongar in Essex leads with 4 Tenns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chipping Ongar | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Fulham London | 4 | 156.86x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 40.98x |
| Chelmsford | 1 | 169.49x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 178.57x |
| Lamesley | 1 | 357.14x |
| St Albans St Stephen | 1 | 909.09x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 10.67x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 153.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tenn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tenn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tenn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bank Manager | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Compositor (Printer) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Daughter Of Above | 1 |
| Formerly Teacher | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Pew Opener | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Serv Gen Domestic | 1 |
| Son Of Above | 1 |
| Teacher (Scl) | 1 |
| Wife Of Above | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Tenn surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Tenn a modern rank of #33,762.
An English surname derived from a place name meaning a valley or river bank.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tenn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.