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Plena Dabit Deus Vela (God will fill our sails)
Tennant is a Scottish Lowland surname. Its best-recorded line is the Tennant family of Glenconner, Ochiltree, in Ayrshire, to whom Robert Burns addressed his Epistle to James Tennant of Glenconner in 1789. From that family came Charles Tennant (1768-1838), who founded the St Rollox chemical works in Glasgow in 1797 and patented bleaching powder in 1799. No Tennant chief is listed by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
Clan Tennant Crest
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Tennant · Yules Ancient
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Crest & Motto
The motto of Clan Tennant is Plena Dabit Deus Vela (God will fill our sails). It appears on the Clan Tennant crest badge: the chief’s heraldic crest set inside a strap and buckle that carries the motto.
In Scotland a crest belongs to the chief, not to everyone with the surname. Clan members may wear the crest badge, with the crest inside the strap and buckle, to show that they belong to the clan. The plain crest without the strap remains the chief’s own.
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View all Tennant productsRobert Burns addresses his Epistle to James Tennant of Glenconner[1][5]
Charles Tennant founds the St Rollox chemical works, Glasgow, with four partners[4]
Tennant patents bleaching powder (chloride of lime)[4]
His grandson Sir Charles Clow Tennant is created a baronet[4][6]
Edward Priaulx Tennant created 1st Baron Glenconner, of Glen, Peeblesshire[6]
Map outline: Natural Earth (public domain). Pins use official Historic Environment Scotland grid references.
These family names are connected with Clan Tennant. Each list says who records the link.
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Plena Dabit Deus Vela, Latin for 'God will fill our sails'.
No. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs does not list a Tennant chief, and COSCA's Tennant entry names none.
Robert Burns addressed his Epistle to James Tennant of Glenconner to the Ayrshire family in 1789; among its lines is 'An' no forgetting wabster Charlie, I'm tauld he offers very fairly.'
Charles Tennant (1768-1838) grew up at Glenconner, Ochiltree, in Ayrshire. In 1797 he and four partners founded the St Rollox chemical works in Glasgow, and in 1799 he patented bleaching powder, or chloride of lime. His grandson Sir Charles Clow Tennant was created a baronet in 1885, and Charles Clow's son Edward Priaulx Tennant became 1st Baron Glenconner in 1911.
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