Trenter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Trenter family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the settlement of Trent in the county of Dorset, or on the banks of the Trent River. 1 This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Trente. 2 The surname Trenter belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, farmsteads, or other locations. "Anglo-Saxon charters Trenta, Traenta, the Treonta of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles A.D. 924, and the Treanta of Baeda. In my opinion the name is a survival of the Latin torrent-em (Ital. torrénte), a torrent, in allusion to the famous bore or eagre of the lower part of the river." 3

Early Origins of the Trenter family

The surname Trenter was first found in Somerset where John de Trente was recorded in the 12th century. Later in London, William Trent was listed in 1300 and later again, Peter Trente was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1351. 1 Trent is a parish, in the union of Sherborne, hundred of Horethorne, E. division of Somerset. 4 Gilbert de Trent was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

The Tranter variant is most interesting. The name evolved from the occupation for someone "who peddles and hawks from place to place," to the spelling Trant. Terri Trauetarius was listed at Winton, Hampshire in 1148 followed by Philip Trenter in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1221. Again in Essex, we found Hugo le Tranuenter in 1292 and in Cornwall, Mark le Traveter was listed in 1306. Simon le Traunter was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1 Records in 1547, show the Churchwardens' Accounts in Ludlow having noted Agnes Traunter and Annes Tranter. 6

Further to the north in Scotland, the name "is a curtailed form of Tranent. William Trent was a monk of Cupar Abbey in 1456, and in 1521 Petrus Trent witnessed a tack by the abbot of the same house. John Trent was tenant of the Abbey of Neubotle in 1563, a later John Trent was retoured heir of James Trent in Newbottell, his father, in 1638 and in 1661 William Trent was retoured heir of John Trent, his father." 7

Early History of the Trenter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trenter research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1456, 1622, 1638, 1655, 1672, 1689, 1724, 1739, 1769, 1787 and 1839 are included under the topic Early Trenter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trenter Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Trenter include Trent, Trente, Trend and others.

Early Notables of the Trenter family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trenter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trenter migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Trenter or a variant listed above:

Trenter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Trenter, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 8

The Trenter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Augeo
Motto Translation: I increase.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)