Surname Tenby - Meaning and Origin
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Tenby: What does the surname Tenby mean?
The last name Tenby is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name refers to the place in England where it originated, Tenby, which is located in the county of Pembrokeshire. It is thought Tenby was derived from an Old English phrase meaning “fortification at the ten burghs”.
The place name Tenby dates back as far as the 10th century and is recorded in the Domesday Book as being a thriving port. Tenby is thought to have been an important trading post in the area and was likely the site of an old Roman fort. Tenby then became an important port for the Normans who invaded England in 1066.
The surname Tenby is associated with the place and its inhabitants. Those who are surnamed Tenby likely hail from the town of Tenby in the county of Pembrokeshire. The surname is linked to this part of Wales and is also likely a Norman surname due to the area’s Norman invasion.
The surname Tenby can be found throughout England as well as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a fairly uncommon name and is associated with individuals from Pembrokeshire, Wales who have roots in the area going back centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisTenby: Where does the name Tenby come from?
The last name Tenby is a common surname in the United Kingdom, particularly in Wales. Tenby is a town in the county of Pembrokeshire in Wales, and it seems likely that the name originated there. The earliest recorded use of the Tenby surname dates back to 1485 when an Ughtred Tenby is recorded on a list of Clergy of Pembrokeshire.
The Tenby name is found in other parts of the UK as well; during the 19th century, there was a Tenby family living in London and another in Cornwall. A large concentration of the Tenby name appears to occur in mid and south Wales, including Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, and Swansea.
Tenby remains a common last name in the 21st century, especially in Wales. In 2011, the latest year for which available data is available, there were 806 people in Britain living with the Tenby last name, more than doubling the number from 1986. The Tenby name is popular in many Welsh towns and cities, including Cardiff, Newport, Neath, and Swansea.
The Tenby name continues to be widely used in Wales and across the UK, a testament to the family's medieval roots in Pembrokeshire.
Variations of the surname Tenby
The surname Tenby has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Here are some of the more common ones:
Tenby
Tumby
Thunby
Thimbleby
Tinbi
Tinby
Tinbley
Timbley
Twinbie
Tombleby
Tunby
Thumby
The surname Tenby is believed to have originated in Lincolnshire, England, and likely derived from the Old Norse word “tun” which means “fence”. It has also been suggested that the name may have referred to someone living by a particular boundary fence.
Throughout the centuries the spelling of many surnames has changed as it has passed down through generations. As a result, some spellings of the name have changed over time and are now more popular than others.
Some other spellings of Tenby which are considered variants of the original name include: Tumbi, Thimby, Thinbi, and Tinbi.
The surname Tenby is also sometimes found in other variations such as Tompby, Tombley, Tombi, and Tumbi.
Finally, it is also worth noting that some people can have a variety of surnames that are related to Tenby, most of which are derived from the original spelling. Examples of related surnames include Tenby-Smith, Tenby-Bevan, Tenby-Jones, Tenby-Brown and Tenby-Giles.
In conclusion, the surname Tenby has a number of variants, spellings and related surnames which all derive from the original spelling and likely originated in Lincolnshire, England.
Famous people with the name Tenby
- Jake Tenby: US reality television personality best known for appearing in the fifth season of MTV's The Challenge.
- Martha Tenby: US film producer and winner of the 2018 BAFTA TV Craft Award for Production Design.
- Phineas Tenby: British actor who starred in the television adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
- William Tenby: British astronomer and builder of many important early astronomical instruments.
- Toni Tenby: British pop singer and winner of the 2013 BRIT Award for Female Solo Artist.
- Evelyn Tenby: British fashion designer and winner of the 2017 British Council Fashion Impact Award.
- Alastair Tenby: British documentary filmmaker and winner of the 2010 International Emmy for Documentary.
- Monica Tenby: British track and field athlete and winner of the 2013 World Athletics Championships 800m Gold Medal.
- Maya Tenby: British philanthropist and human rights activist, awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
- Justin Tenby: US actor and winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.