Show ContentsTrezise History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Trezise family

The surname Trezise was first found in Herefordshire where Sire de Tregos, who was originally of Troisgots in St. Lo, Normandy held lands at the time of the Domesday Book census of 1086. The ruins of his castle exist on the Vire. Le Sire de Tregos held lands in Hereford, Wiltshire and Cornwall. 1

The family claim descent from "the castle of Tregoz, in the arrondissement of St. Lo: a place of some strength, built on a narrow neck of land washed by the Vire and one of its lesser tributaries. King John visited it in the beginning of the thirteenth century. Scarcely any traces of it now remain; and the name has long since degenerated into Troisgots. A priory once stood on the river bank hard by, founded by Robert de Tregoz in 1197. The Seigneurie was confiscated by Philip Augustus; but the family long remained in Normandy. Pierre de Tregoz was among the knights of the Cotentin summoned for the service of Mont St. Michel in 1271; and another Tregoz is mentioned in 1418 under Henry V." 2

"Cil ki dune tenet Tregoz," came to England in the Conqueror's army, and is praised by Wace for his intrepidity at the battle of Hastings. "He killed two Englishmen, smiting the one through with his lance, and braining the other with his sword; and then galloped his horse back, so that no Englishman touched him." We hear no more of this knight, either in Domesday or elsewhere; and though, according to the Testa de Nevill, the family was settled in Herefordshire from the time of the Conquest, the first mention of a Tregoz in public records is in the time of King Stephen. 3 William de Tregoz, in 1139, farmed the lands of William Peverel of London (Rot. Pip.), and had two sons, John, who held in Sussex under the Earl of Arundel in 1167, and Geoffrey, who died in 1155, a landowner in Essex. Geoffrey's grandson, Robert de Tregoz, first raised the house into importance by his marriage; for his wife Sybil, the heiress of Robert Lord Ewyas, brought him the castle and honour of Harold-Ewyas in Herefordshire, and Lydiard-since named from him Lydiard-Tregoze-in Wiltshire; nineteen knights' fees in all. He took part against Henry II. with his rebellious sons; was Sheriff of Wilts under Coeur-de-Lion; and greatly trusted and often employed both in Normandy and England by King John. " 2

"The lands of Trewothick or Trewothike, in the parish of St. Anthony in Kirrier, Cornwall, in ancient times belong to the family of Tregose, who had their seat here for several generations; which family was quite extinct in the days of Hals. In the reign of Charles II. this estate passed by sale to the Vaughans of Ottery St. Mary, in Devon." 4

Early History of the Trezise family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trezise research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1131, 1145 and 1670 are included under the topic Early Trezise History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trezise Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tregos, Tregoes, Tregoz, Tregoze, Tregosse and many more.

Early Notables of the Trezise family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trezise Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Trezise migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trezise Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Trezise, (b. 1829), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Marquis of Chandos" arriving in the United States on 7 June 1851 5

Australia Trezise migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Trezise Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Richard Trezise, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke of Bedford" in 1848 6
  • Martin Edwards Trezise, aged 31, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 7
  • Caroline Jago Trezise, aged 26, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" 8
  • John Trezise, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Standard" 9
  • Mr. John Trezise, (b. 1835), aged 19, Cornish quarryman, from Mullion, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lady Elgin" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 4th August 1854 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Trezise migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Trezise Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Trezise, (b. 1846), aged 22, Cornish ploughman departing on 12th November 1868 aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 8th February 1869 11
  • Mr. Thomas Trezise, (b. 1846), aged 22, British ploughman travelling from London aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th February 1869 12
  • Miss Mabel Trezise, (b. 1874), aged Infant, Cornish settler departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 11
  • Mr. Henry Trezise, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 12
  • Mrs. Johanna Trezise, British settler travelling from London, UK with 2 children aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Trezise (post 1700) +

  • John Trezise (b. 1954), former Australian rules footballer
  • Percy Trezise AM (1923-2005), Australian pilot, painter, explorer and writer
  • Ian Douglas Trezise (b. 1959), Australian politician, Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Geelong (1999-)
  • Rachel Trezise (b. 1978), Welsh author from Cwmparc, Rhondda
  • Patrick Trezise (b. 1982), South African silver and three-time bronze medalist judoka
  • Neil Benjamin "Nipper" Trezise (1931-2006), Australian footballer
  • John Trezise Tonkin AC (1902-1995), Australian politician, Premier of Western Australia (1971 to 1974), eponym of the Tonkin Highway


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  3. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DUKE OF BEDFORD 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848DukeofBedford.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "WILLIAM MONEY" 1848-49. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WmMoney.htm
  8. South Australian Register Friday 15 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Stuart 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstuart1853.shtml
  9. South Australian Register Monday 18th December 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1854.shtml
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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