Troubradge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Troubradge is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Troubradge family lived in Devon, at Trowbridge. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word for a wooden bridge.

"The name signifies 'through the bridge;' perhaps given for some feat of daring, or bodily courage." 1

Early Origins of the Troubradge family

The surname Troubradge was first found in Devon where conjecturally they are believed to be descended from two Norman knights Richard and Reginald who held the lands of Modbury from the Count of Mortaine as shown in the Domesday Book which was surveyed in 1086 A.D. The land was shown to have 30 goats. 2

Trowbridge is also a market-town and parish, in the union and hundred of Melksham, Westbury and N. divisions, and Trowbridge and Bradford subdivisions, of Wiltshire. "It was anciently a royal manor, forming part of the duchy of Lancaster, having been granted by the crown to John of Gaunt. The estate afterwards reverted to the crown, and was given by Henry VIII., in the 28th year of his reign, to Sir Edward Seymour, Knt., Viscount Beauchamp." 3 So, while one would presume that this market-town was the place of origin of the surname, it was indeed not.

Early rolls include Walter de Trobrigge in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1184 and William de Trewebrugg in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. 4

In Somerset, Richard Trowbrigge; John de Trowbrugge; and William de Trowbrugge were recorded 1 Edward III, (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Troubradge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Troubradge research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1583, 1731, 1758, 1768, 1773, 1774, 1776, 1780, 1781, 1807 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Troubradge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Troubradge Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Troubradge are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Troubradge include Trowbridge, Troubridge, Trobridge and others.

Early Notables of the Troubradge family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Troubridge (1758?-1807), rear-admiral, born in London about 1758, son of Richard Troubridge. He was admitted on the foundation of St. Paul's school, London, on 22 Feb. 1768, ‘aged 10’ (Gardiner, Register of St. Paul's School, p. 139). It is doubtfully said (Naval Chronicle, xxiii. 1) that he made, as a boy, a voyage to the West Indies in a merchant ship. All that is certainly known is that he entered the navy on board the Seahorse frigate on 8 Oct. 1773, in the rating of ‘able seaman,’ and was then described...
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Troubradge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Troubradge family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Troubradge, or a variant listed above: Thomas Trowbridge, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1636; James Trowbridge, who was on record in Dorchester, MA in 1658; John Trowbridg(e), who was on record in New England in 1668.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.