Tewnion

Recorded in several spelling forms including Teunion, Teunon, Tewnion, and Tinnion, this is a very rare Stottish surname. It is said to originate from an unusual aspiration of the 6th century Saint Adam, firstly to St Eunam, and then to Teunan and other spellings as a surname. Examples of this 'shortening' process from the north of Scotland include: St Rule to the surname 'Trowel', and St Anthony to 'Tantan'. Why this process should be particular to the region of Aberdeen and Banff is unclear, but it may be that the 'English speaking' influence was higher here than in other parts of the Highlands. Early examples of the surname recording are rare, although we have a Robert Teunion of Boharm in Morayshire on March 27th 1873, when his daughter Charlotte Anne was baptised, and again on December 8th of the same year, when a second daughter called Sarah was also baptised. Black's 'Surnames of Scotland' also record that in the First World War (1914 - 1919) five men called Teunion from Turriff, and four brothers called Tewnion from Marmoch, served in the British Army.