NameCensus.

UK surname

Tennent

A surname derived from an Old French occupational term for a tenant or landholder.

In the 1881 census there were 489 people recorded with the Tennent surname, ranking it #6,883 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 589, ranked #8,846, down from #6,883 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Chichester and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tennent is 591 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.4%.

1881 census count

489

Ranked #6,883

Modern count

589

2016, ranked #8,846

Peak year

1901

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tennent had 489 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,883 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016, ranked #8,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 591 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Tennent surname distribution map

The map shows where the Tennent surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Tennent surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tennent over time

The 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 489 #6,883
1891 historical 517 #7,225
1901 historical 591 #7,149
1911 historical 248 #12,988
1997 modern 552 #8,634
1998 modern 589 #8,500
1999 modern 582 #8,615
2000 modern 583 #8,571
2001 modern 574 #8,539
2002 modern 591 #8,543
2003 modern 563 #8,691
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 542 #8,887
2006 modern 542 #8,918
2007 modern 547 #8,941
2008 modern 547 #9,011
2009 modern 561 #9,028
2010 modern 574 #9,064
2011 modern 568 #9,043
2012 modern 558 #9,071
2013 modern 578 #8,981
2014 modern 586 #8,954
2015 modern 584 #8,914
2016 modern 589 #8,846

Geography

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Where Tennents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Chichester, Waverley, Dundyvan and Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rutherglen Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 003 Pendle
2 Chichester 013 Chichester
3 Waverley 018 Waverley
4 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
5 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tennent

These lists show first names that appear often with the Tennent surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tennent

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tennent, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Tennent surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Tennent household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tennent is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tennent is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tennent falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tennent is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tennent, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tennent

The surname Tennent is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is considered a locational name, derived from the lands of Tennant in East Lothian. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "tun" meaning a farm or settlement, and "anan" meaning one at or to dwell at.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document recording the pledge of allegiance to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. It appears as "Tennand de la Bastilie" and "Tennand de Kinglas."

In the 14th century, the name is found in various historical records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where it is spelled "Tennande" and "Tennant." This suggests that the spelling of the name had not yet been fully standardized.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Robert Tennent, a Scottish landowner who lived in the mid-15th century and was granted lands in Ayrshire by King James II of Scotland in 1455.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Ragman Rolls of 1612, a document recording landowners in Scotland at the time. It is recorded as "Tennent of that Ilk" and "Tennent of Lynhous."

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence with William Tennent (1673-1746), a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who immigrated to America and became a prominent figure in the Great Awakening religious movement. He established the Log College, which played a significant role in the development of higher education in the American colonies.

Another notable figure was Sir James Tennent (1789-1854), a Scottish politician, writer, and traveler who served as a member of parliament and wrote several books, including "Christianity in Ceylon" and "Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon."

In the 19th century, the name was associated with John Tennent (1811-1867), a Scottish brewer who founded the Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow, which became one of the largest breweries in Scotland. The brand "Tennent's Lager" is still widely known and consumed today.

Throughout history, the surname has also been associated with various places and locations, such as Tennant's Loch in East Lothian, Scotland, and the village of Tennant in Fife, Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tennent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tennent surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 246 Tennents recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.98x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 246 15.98x
Midlothian 35 5.49x
Northumberland 27 3.81x
Middlesex 24 0.50x
Lancashire 23 0.41x
Durham 17 1.20x
Ayrshire 15 4.21x
Yorkshire 13 0.28x
Renfrewshire 11 2.98x
Kent 9 0.55x
Suffolk 8 1.38x
Stirlingshire 7 3.99x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.99x
Staffordshire 6 0.37x
Sussex 6 0.75x
Worcestershire 6 0.97x
Surrey 5 0.22x
Westmorland 5 4.78x
Argyllshire 3 2.26x
Devon 3 0.30x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Norfolk 2 0.27x
Shropshire 2 0.49x
Cumberland 1 0.24x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.78x
Essex 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Ross-shire 1 0.76x
Royal Navy 1 1.76x
West Lothian 1 1.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 50 Tennents recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.83x.

Place Total Index
Barony 50 12.83x
Govan 50 13.13x
Old Monkland 29 47.47x
Glasgow 25 9.15x
Hamilton 21 48.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 7.41x
Bothwell 18 43.11x
Islington London 15 3.25x
Cambuslang 12 77.32x
Avondale 8 88.89x
Lasswade 8 54.87x
Mauchline 8 195.60x
Rutherglen 8 35.41x
Shilbottle 8 1142.86x
Lesmahagow 7 43.00x
Stratford St Mary 7 843.37x
Thorner 7 457.52x
Bradford 6 5.25x
Brighton 6 3.71x
Burradon In Tynemouth 6 331.49x
East Greenock 6 17.22x
Kilmarnock 6 14.15x
Kings Norton 6 10.76x
Sedgley 6 10.05x
Urpeth 6 217.39x
Benwell 5 64.60x
Elton 5 25.61x
Hugill 5 781.25x
Kidbrooke 5 543.48x
Manchester 5 1.97x
Preston 5 3.31x
Camberwell 4 1.32x
Cambusnethan 4 11.70x
Chatton 4 184.33x
East Kilbride 4 60.70x
Iveston 4 61.35x
Lanark 4 32.28x
South Leith 4 5.57x
Wisbech St Peter 4 26.46x
Benfieldside 3 32.22x
Dunipace 3 97.72x
Everton 3 1.67x
Falkirk 3 7.30x
Gorbals 3 32.82x
Kensington London 3 1.13x
Livesey 3 30.27x
Wolborough 3 23.94x
Campbeltown 2 12.51x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.78x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 12.32x
Elswick 2 3.54x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.30x
Neilston 2 10.80x
Shotts 2 10.86x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 19.67x
Abbey 1 1.78x
Alverstoke 1 2.83x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.11x
Corstorphine 1 28.41x
Cramlington 1 10.68x
Edgware 1 75.19x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 7.97x
Gillingham 1 2.99x
Gorleston 1 6.79x
Hinckley 1 7.99x
Hurworth 1 40.32x
Kilsyth 1 8.94x
Merton 1 24.63x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 131.58x
Portsea 1 0.52x
Row 1 6.04x
South Shields 1 7.92x
St George Hanover 1 1.61x
St Giles Cambridge 1 25.71x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.51x
St Pancras London 1 0.26x
The Holy Sepulchre 1 135.14x
Tonbridge 1 1.71x
West Derby 1 0.61x
Woolwich 1 1.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tennent surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 10
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Margaret 5
Emma 4
Isabella 4
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Selina 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.M. 1
Eusom 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriatt 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Hugh 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Katharine 1
Letitia 1
Louisa 1
Margeret 1
Margrate 1
Marion 1
Patience 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tennent surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 12
George 10
Thomas 8
John 7
James 5
Frederick 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Archelaus 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Enock 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jasper 1
Percy 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Tennent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tennent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 489 people were recorded with the Tennent surname. That placed it at #6,883 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tennent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016. That gives Tennent a modern rank of #8,846.

What does the Tennent surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old French occupational term for a tenant or landholder.

What does the Tennent map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tennent bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.