Turnbul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

According to family tradition, the Turnbul surname comes from when a member of the Rule family saved the life of King Robert the Bruce at Stirling Park from a charging bull by turning the bull's head. The grateful King decreed that in commemoration of the brave act the new name of the family would be Turnbull, and granted them an area of land then known as Bedrule. 1 Other Etymology suggests that the name comes from the Old English Trumbald, meaning "strongly bold." 2

Early Origins of the Turnbul family

The surname Turnbul was first found in Yorkshire at Wakefield where Alan Tumbald was recorded in 1313. Three years later in 1316, the Thrumball spelling was used. Peter Thrumbald was listed there in 1315 and Reginald Thrumbald was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. Alice Thrumbald, Trumbald was listed at Wakefield (1316-1317) and much later the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk included an entry for Elizabeth Trumble in 1568. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 included an entry for Johannes Turnebull. 3

Early History of the Turnbul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turnbul research. Another 272 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1249, 1296, 1335, 1447, 1635, 1639, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Turnbul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turnbul Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Turnbull, Turnball, Trimble, Trimbell, Trumbell, Trumbill, Turnbul and many more.

Early Notables of the Turnbul family

More information is included under the topic Early Turnbul Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Turnbul family to Ireland

Some of the Turnbul family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turnbul migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Turnbul Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Turnbul, a Scottish prisoner sent to New Jersey, America in 1685

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)