Show ContentsTruett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Truett surname comes from the place name Trewhitt in Northumberland; the first bearer of this surname was most likely someone who had come from that place to a new location.

Early Origins of the Truett family

The surname Truett was first found in Northumberland where the original reference of the name was found at High Trewhitt, and Low Trewhitt, townships, in the parish and union of Rothbury.

Originally named Tirwit (c. 1150-1162), the name possibly meant "river-bend where wood is obtained" 1 These small townships have grown little in size since early times as late as the mid 1800s, there were only 130 inhabitants there.

But looking back, other records show Sir Herculus de Trywhitt was knighted by Duke William in 1068 and granted the lands of Tyrwhitt or Terwit, however there is no record of the place in the Domesday Book.

Later John de Tyrwyt was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1296 and William Tyrwhit was listed in there in 1383. 2 The parish of Stainfield in Lincolnshire was an ancient homestead of the family. "There are some remains of an ancient mansion of the Tyrwhitt family, now occupied as a farmhouse." 3

Early History of the Truett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Truett research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1577, 1598, 1611, 1624, 1628, 1633, 1663, 1667, 1688, 1708, 1730, 1741, 1760, 1786, 1808 and 1919 are included under the topic Early Truett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Truett Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Trywhitt, Terwitt, Trewitt, Trewhitt, Truitt, Terwit, Truet and many more.

Early Notables of the Truett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Philip Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet (d. 1624) of Stainfield in Lincolnshire; Sir Edward Tyrwhitt, 2nd Baronet (1577-1628); Sir Philip Tyrwhitt, 3rd Baronet (1598-c. 1667); Sir...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Truett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Truett Ranking

In the United States, the name Truett is the 8,871st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4


United States Truett migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Truett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Tho Truett, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 5
Truett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Truett, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 5
Truett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M F Truett, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
  • H B Truett, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
Truett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Abb R. Truett, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
  • Geo. W. Truett, aged 51, who landed in America, in 1919
  • A. R Truett, aged 24, who settled in America, in 1920
  • William Truett, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922
  • Edward Truett, aged 45, who landed in America, in 1923
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Truett (post 1700) +

  • Alexander H. Truett (b. 1833), Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War, recipient of the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864
  • Quincy Hightower Truett, American sailor who received the Navy Cross posthumously, eponym of the USS Truett (FF-1095)
  • George Washington Truett (1867-1944), American preacher who served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1927 to 1929)
  • Geoff Truett (1957-1962), English former professional footballer who played for Crystal Palace
  • Samuel Truett Cathy (1921-2014), American founder of Chick-fil-A, an American fast food restaurant chain


The Truett 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: Time tryeth truth
Motto Translation: Time tests faith


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)


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