Show ContentsTreiagowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The proud Treiagowe family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Treiagowe family originally lived at Trejo in the county of Cornwall.

Early Origins of the Treiagowe family

The surname Treiagowe was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Crantock. The parish of Crantock bordered on the northern coast on the banks of the Bristol Channel. About the 12th and 13th centuries this ancient Clan Trejago was of great force in the west country, they having many knights listed in 1323 who held 40 librates of land. In 1306, Sir John de Trejago represented Cornwall in Parliament, he being one of two 'knights of the Shire.' Sir John continued this representation until 1340. He is undoubtedly one and the same as the High Sheriff of Cornwall who was at this time a Trejago, John de Trejago, classified amongst all landholders as being a 'first class landholder'.

"The manor of Treiago or Trea-ago in the parish of Probus, Cornwall], belonged in a very distant period to the ancient family of Triago. The lord of this manor built the south aisle of the present vicarage church at his own expence, and appropriated the same to his heirs for ever, charging those lands with the repairs and maintenance of this aisle; which expences they still continue to discharge, without connecting it with the other parts of the church." 1

Early History of the Treiagowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Treiagowe research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1417 is included under the topic Early Treiagowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Treiagowe Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Trejago, Treiago, Trajago, Treajago, Trejaggo, Trejagoe and many more.

Early Notables of the Treiagowe family

More information is included under the topic Early Treiagowe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Treiagowe family

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Treiagowe: Joseph Trejagow who landed in North America in 1700.



  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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