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Tennison Family History

Tennison Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): variant of Tennyson.

Variant of Tenneson a surname of Norwegian North German or Dutch origin.

Compare Tennyson.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Tennison family from?

You can see how Tennison families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tennison family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tennison families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 109 Tennison families living in Yorkshire. This was about 71% of all the recorded Tennison's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Tennison families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tennison surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Tennison ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Tennison. 34% of Tennison men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Tennison women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tennison were Railway Clerk and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Tennison | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    34%
  • Carpenter joiner
    12%
  • Bank Clerk
    12%
  • Railway Clerk
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    15%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Tennison family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Tennison. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tennison census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Tennison

Passenger Lists

There are 882 immigration records available for the last name Tennison. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Tennison immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Tennison. For the veterans among your Tennison ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tennison military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tennison family history

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What is the average Tennison lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Tennison life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Tennison in 1953 was 23, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tennison

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tennison ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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