Show ContentsTrengoh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Cornwall in southwestern England provides the original birthplace of the surname Trengoh. As populations grew, people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Unlike most Celtic peoples, who favored patronymic names, the Cornish predominantly used local surnames. This was due to the heavy political and cultural influence of the English upon the Cornish People at the time that surnames first came into use. Local surnames were derived from where a person lived, held land, or was born. While many Cornish surnames of this sort appear to be topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees, many are actually habitation surnames derived from lost or unrecorded place names. The name Trengoh history began in the village of Nanfan, in Cornwall. Members of the family were involved in the blacksmith trade and prior to the 18th century often went by the occupational name Trengove, from the Cornish words tren meaning strong, and angove, meaning smith. Many used the name Trengoff of Nance.

Early Origins of the Trengoh family

The surname Trengoh was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat from early times.

The manor of Truthal in the parish of Sithney, Cornwall was "granted to the family of Nants or Nance, [after the Reformation] who were succeeded in the possession by the Arundells of Tolverne." 1

Early History of the Trengoh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trengoh research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1521, 1547, 1553, 1561 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Trengoh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trengoh 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 Nance, Trengove, Trengoff, Trengrove and others.

Early Notables of the Trengoh family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trengoh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Trengoh family to Ireland

Some of the Trengoh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trengoh family

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Trengoh: Alice Nance and her husband settled in Virginia in 1639; Nancy Nance arrived in Philadelphia in 1820.



  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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