Tren History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The ancestry of the name Tren dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived 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 Tren 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 Tren family

The surname Tren 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 Tren family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tren 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 Tren History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tren Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Tren have been found, including Trent, Trente, Trend and others.

Early Notables of the Tren family

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

Tren migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Tren, or a variant listed above:

Tren Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Tren, who arrived in Maryland in 1671 8

Tren Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jose Tren, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1880 8

The Tren 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)