Anyone know any history behind the surname tennent?

Question

Anyone know any history behind the surname tennent?

Answer 1

From: http://www.ancestry.com/facts/tennent-ci...

tennent Name Meaning and History

Scottish and English: variant spelling of Tennant.

Surname: Tennant

Recorded as Tenant, Tenaunt and Tennant, this is an English status surname. It originally described a husbandman, the later description being a farmer, or one who held lands from an overlord. The derivation is from the pre 10th century Olde French word "tenant", introduced by the victorious Normans after the Invasion of 1066. The origination is from the word "tenir", meaning to hold, and the first known surname recording is from the early 14th century, as shown below. Early examples of the surname recording include: Johannes Tenant in the original Poll Tax register for the county of Yorkshire in 1379, whilst Philip Swalowe married Elizabeth Tennante at St. Dionis Backchurch, in the city of London, in 1553. An interesting recording from the early records of settlements in the West Indies and the New England colonies of the 17th century, is that of Mrs Mary Tennant. She is given as being a "widdow", and listed as the holder of twenty acres in the parish of St. Thomas, Barbados, on December 3rd 1679. Amongst the many examples of interesting namebearers was Sir James Tennant (1789 - 1854), a brigadier general who received thanks of parliament for his military services in India. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Tenand. This was dated 1332, in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland, during the reign of King Edward IIIrd of England. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Answer 2

I suspect the Tennent's of Old Tennent Church near Freehold, NJ were of Scot origin, since the church was Scot Presbyterian.  Very interesting fellows.  Worth a look at a history of the church book to get the full story of their life, death, and resurrection....

Answer 3

Tennent  

Last name origin & meaning:

Scottish and English: variant spelling of Tennant.

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Tennant  

Last name origin & meaning:

Scottish and English: status name for a farmer who held his land from an overlord by obligations of rent or service, from Old French, Middle English tenant (present participle of Old French tenir ‘to hold’, Latin tenere). This was the normal situation for landholders in the Middle Ages, since in the feudal system all land belonged ultimately to the king and use of it was granted in return for financial or military support.