Show ContentsTrenchard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Trenchard is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a soldier. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old French word trenchire, meaning a swordsman, soldier, or man of war.

Early Origins of the Trenchard family

The surname Trenchard was first found in Dorset where they were granted the lands of Hordhill in the Isle of Wight by Baldwin de Ripariis to Paganus Trenchard and his heirs about 1100 A.D. The grandsons of Paganus, Robert, Alexander and Hugh Trenchard, witnessed the deed.

Early History of the Trenchard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trenchard research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1582, 1586, 1588, 1613, 1621, 1625, 1640, 1657, 1662 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Trenchard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trenchard Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Trenchard, Trancherd, Trencher, Trenchar and others.

Early Notables of the Trenchard family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • John Trenchard (1586-1662), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons, Member of Parliament for Wareham (1621-1625)
  • Sir Thomas Trenchard (1582-1657) of Wolverton, who was knighted by James I in 1613


United States Trenchard migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Trenchard or a variant listed above:

Trenchard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hen Trenchard, who landed in Virginia in 1666 1
  • Attorney General George Trenchard, who settled in New Jersey in 1686
Trenchard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Trenchard, who arrived in New York in 1837 1

Canada Trenchard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trenchard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin C. Trenchard was a fisherman of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland in 1860 2

Australia Trenchard migration to Australia +

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

Trenchard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Trenchard, English convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 3
  • Mr. Jabez Trenchard, (b. 1825), aged 18, English convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

New Zealand Trenchard 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:

Trenchard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Guy Trenchard, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Trenchard (post 1700) +

  • Rear Admiral Stephen Decatur Trenchard (1818-1883), American naval officer
  • Justice Thomas Whitaker Trenchard (1863-1942), American New Jersey Supreme Court Judge
  • Herbert William Trenchard (1857-1934), English chess master
  • Thomas Trenchard (1923-1987), 2nd Viscount Trenchard
  • Hugh Montague Trenchard (1873-1956), British Chief of the Air Staff during World War I, created 1st Viscount Trenchard in 1936


The Trenchard 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: Nosce Teipsum
Motto Translation: Know thyself.


  1. 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)
  2. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy


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