Show ContentsTrentchard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Trentchard family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, they brought their name with them. 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 Trentchard family

The surname Trentchard 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 Trentchard family

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

Trentchard Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Trenchard, Trancherd, Trencher, Trenchar and others.

Early Notables of the Trentchard 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...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trentchard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trentchard family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Trentchard or a variant listed above: Symon Trencherd, who settled in Virginia in 1637. Attorney General George Trenchard of New Jersey settled there in 1686; he was from Somerset in England, he was succeeded by Edward Trenchard of New York City. In Newfoundland, Benjamin Trencher was a blacksmith of Lower Island Cove in 1838.



The Trentchard 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.


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