<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-11-009420.txt : 20110608
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-11-009420.hdr.sgml : 20110607
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110608170919
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-11-009420
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110608
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110608

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Austen William F.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001289138

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16191
		FILM NUMBER:		11901543

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		222 SOUTH 9TH STREET, SUITE 2300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402-4099

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TENNANT CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000097134
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY [3580]
		IRS NUMBER:				410572550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1214

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701 N LILAC DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1452
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6125401200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701 N LILAC DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1452
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TENNANT G H CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097134</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TENNANT CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001289138</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Austen William F.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE NEENAH CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 169</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEENAH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54957</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9239</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Amy M. Jensen on behalf of William F. Austen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
