Explore the Family Name Tennessee
The meaning of Tennessee
African American: apparently from the name of the US state, possibly via the personal name Tennessee. Alternatively, perhaps an altered form of English Tansey.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tennessee in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Tennessee' has seen an upward trend from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 61,855 in popularity with a count of 303 bearers. However, by 2010, the rank improved to 56,710, marking an increase of 8.32%, and the count rose to 360, experiencing an 18.81% surge. The proportion per 100k also increased slightly from 0.11 to 0.12, witnessing a 9.09% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,855 | #56,710 | 8.32% |
| Count | 303 | 360 | 18.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.12 | 9.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tennessee
The ethnic identity linked to the surname 'Tennessee', as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, is most commonly associated with people identifying as Black – accounting for 88.12% in 2000 and 87.50% in 2010, showing a slight decrease of 0.70%. A small percentage of bearers identified as Hispanic, increasing from 5.94% in 2000 to 7.22% in 2010, a growth of 21.55%. Those identifying as White and those who identify with two or more races saw a small decline from 2.31% to 2.22% (-3.90%) and 3.30% to 2.78% (-15.76%) respectively. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 88.12% | 87.5% | -0.7% |
| Hispanic | 5.94% | 7.22% | 21.55% |
| Two or More Races | 3.3% | 2.78% | -15.76% |
| White | 2.31% | 2.22% | -3.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |