| ![Show Contents]() Trenck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The Trenck family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Trenck is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Trenck was given to someone who lived in Franconia. Early Origins of the Trenck familyThe surname Trenck was first found in Franconia, where the name appeared as early as the 13th century, and gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Early History of the Trenck familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trenck research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1652, 1655, 1711, 1749, 1783 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Trenck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Trenck Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Trenck include Trenk, Trenck, Trencke, Traenck, Trenke, Trank, Tranke, Tranck, Trancke, Tranckner, Traenkel (Baden), Traenkler, Trenkel (Baden), Trenkle (Baden), Traenkner (Saxony), Trenkner (Saxony), Trenker, Drenker (Hamburg and many more. Early Notables of the Trenck familyProminent among members of the name Trenck in this period include - Baron Franz von der Trenck (1711-1749), a soldier who fought with distinction in the Imperial and Russian armies, and his cousin Friedrich, also a Baron, who served in the Prussian army and wrote a fa...
Migration of the Trenck familyThe great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Christoph Trenkel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738. Stephen Trenkel also came in that year, as did Christophel Trenkle at the age of 48. Johannes Tranck arrived in Philadelphia in 1750.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Trenck (post 1700) | + |
- Friedrich Freiherr von der Trenck (1726-1794), Prussian officer, adventurer, and author
- Baron Franz von der Trenck (1711-1749), Austrian adventurer and soldier, leader and commander of a unit of pandurs, or paramilitary troops in the Austrian army during the War of the Austrian Succession
- Frederick Trenck Stanley (1802-1883), American politician, Mayor of New Britain, Connecticut, 1870 1
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