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ArchivesRe: what does it mean?
in reply to a message by Tenille
This was originally the surname of the singer Toni Tennille, and became a given name because many people assumed it was her first name because she was part of the singing duo billed as "The Captain and Tennille". It is a real family name and was not invented to be a stage name. The Tennilles in the USA believe the name was originally French, which may be the case, but so far I haven't found it listed as a French surname in reference books. Dauzat's Noms et prenoms de France lists Teneuille as a suname from a place called Theneuille, but gives no etymology for the place name.
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Etymology of Theneuille
It seems that Theneuille (and other French place names as Théneuil, e.g.) comes from the Gallic root tanno-, "kind of green oak". This root is present in Breton, tannen, "oak"; in old Irish, tinne or teine, "holly tree"; in Cornish, glastannen, "oak" or "holm oak"
More information, and controversy about some related words, at:
http://monsu.desiderio.free.fr/jardin/chene.html (in French)
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
It seems that Theneuille (and other French place names as Théneuil, e.g.) comes from the Gallic root tanno-, "kind of green oak". This root is present in Breton, tannen, "oak"; in old Irish, tinne or teine, "holly tree"; in Cornish, glastannen, "oak" or "holm oak"
More information, and controversy about some related words, at:
http://monsu.desiderio.free.fr/jardin/chene.html (in French)
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
1
Thanks a lot for your help!
It would also be helpful to know how both Teneuille and Tenaille, the other French surname suggested by Menke as a possible source of Tennille, are pronounced in France, to help figure out which one (if either) is the more likely source of the American surname Tennille.
It would also be helpful to know how both Teneuille and Tenaille, the other French surname suggested by Menke as a possible source of Tennille, are pronounced in France, to help figure out which one (if either) is the more likely source of the American surname Tennille.
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