UK surname
A surname referring to someone who collected or dealt in tenths or tithes.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Tenner surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tenner is 210 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.4%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1891
210 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tenner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tenner 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 | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 139 | #16,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 210 | #14,412 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 80 | #24,821 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 34 | #34,868 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 36 | #35,397 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 41 | #35,383 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Lambeth, St John Hackney and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tenner 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 Tenner, 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 Tenner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tenner 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, Tenner 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 Tenner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tenner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tenner has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Tenne," which means "threshing floor" or "barn." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked at a threshing floor or barn.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tenner can be found in the medieval records of the city of Cologne, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. In these records, a certain "Johannes Tenner" is mentioned as a landowner and farmer in the region.
As the name spread throughout German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Tener, Thenner, and Tenner. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that time.
The Tenner surname is also associated with certain place names in Germany, such as Tenhausen and Tennstedt. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.
Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Tenner throughout history are:
1. Johann Tenner (1543-1616), a German theologian and reformer known for his contributions to the Protestant Reformation. 2. Hans Tenner (1620-1689), a German architect and builder who designed several churches and public buildings in the Rhineland region. 3. Maria Tenner (1700-1778), a German painter renowned for her still-life and portrait works during the Baroque period. 4. Friedrich Tenner (1825-1903), a German industrialist and entrepreneur who founded one of the earliest textile manufacturing companies in the region. 5. Karl Tenner (1876-1942), a German archaeologist and historian who made significant discoveries related to ancient Roman settlements in modern-day Germany.
While the surname Tenner may not have been as widespread as some other German surnames, its history can be traced back to the medieval period, with connections to various occupations, places, and notable individuals over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tenner 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 9 Tenners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 9 Tenners recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 9 | 21.60x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 26.12x |
| Greenwich | 6 | 78.84x |
| Kettering | 4 | 219.78x |
| Bedminster | 3 | 41.49x |
| Hellingly | 3 | 1111.11x |
| Tollesbury | 3 | 1250.00x |
| West Ham | 3 | 14.40x |
| Ramsgate | 2 | 75.19x |
| Taplow | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Ventnor | 2 | 215.05x |
| Lowestoft | 1 | 36.36x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.60x |
| St Paul Covent Garden | 1 | 208.33x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 14.66x |
| Tywardreath | 1 | 285.71x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tenner 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 Tenner 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 Tenner households.
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Tenner surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Tenner a modern rank of #35,434.
A surname referring to someone who collected or dealt in tenths or tithes.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tenner 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.