Tennyson Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Tennyson last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Tennyson last name
Meaning of the Tennyson last name: son of Dennis. Tennyson is an English surname meaning "son of Dennis", from a pet form of the name Denis. It is found in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate under Queen Victoria, made this last name famous. Dennison is a related form.
Arms associated with the Tennyson name
Coats of arms associated with the Tennyson last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Tennyson family history
This is only a glimpse of the Tennyson story. The full Tennyson history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Tennyson coat of arms. Get the full Tennyson report.
Tennyson name FAQ
What does the Tennyson name mean?
Son of Dennis. Common variants include Tenison, Dennison.
Where does the Tennyson surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Tennyson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Tennyson coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).