 He was born in 1828, the youngest son of John Tennant Tennant (born 1790 as "John Tennant Stansfield"), JP, Capt.3rd West Yorkshire Militia, a son of Jonathan Stansfield of Idle, Yorks, by his wife Miss Barcroft, a daughter of John Barcroft of Foulridge, Lancashire, by his wife Jane Tennant (born 1718), a daughter of John Tennant (born 1686) of Chapel House, Yorkshire.John Tennant Stansfield inherited the Chapel House estate from his childless great-uncle Robert Tennant (born 1725), and adopted the surname and arms of Tennant in compliance with the bequest.