Trant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The ancestors of the Trant surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the settlement of Trent in the county of Dorset, or on the banks of the Trent River. 1 This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Trente. 2 The surname Trant belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, farmsteads, or other locations. "Anglo-Saxon charters Trenta, Traenta, the Treonta of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles A.D. 924, and the Treanta of Baeda. In my opinion the name is a survival of the Latin torrent-em (Ital. torrénte), a torrent, in allusion to the famous bore or eagre of the lower part of the river." 3

Early Origins of the Trant family

The surname Trant was first found in Somerset where John de Trente was recorded in the 12th century. Later in London, William Trent was listed in 1300 and later again, Peter Trente was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1351. 1 Trent is a parish, in the union of Sherborne, hundred of Horethorne, E. division of Somerset. 4 Gilbert de Trent was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

The Tranter variant is most interesting. The name evolved from the occupation for someone "who peddles and hawks from place to place," to the spelling Trant. Terri Trauetarius was listed at Winton, Hampshire in 1148 followed by Philip Trenter in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1221. Again in Essex, we found Hugo le Tranuenter in 1292 and in Cornwall, Mark le Traveter was listed in 1306. Simon le Traunter was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1 Records in 1547, show the Churchwardens' Accounts in Ludlow having noted Agnes Traunter and Annes Tranter. 6

Further to the north in Scotland, the name "is a curtailed form of Tranent. William Trent was a monk of Cupar Abbey in 1456, and in 1521 Petrus Trent witnessed a tack by the abbot of the same house. John Trent was tenant of the Abbey of Neubotle in 1563, a later John Trent was retoured heir of James Trent in Newbottell, his father, in 1638 and in 1661 William Trent was retoured heir of John Trent, his father." 7

Early History of the Trant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trant research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1456, 1622, 1638, 1655, 1672, 1689, 1724, 1739, 1769, 1787 and 1839 are included under the topic Early Trant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trant Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Trant include Trent, Trente, Trend and others.

Early Notables of the Trant family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Nicholas Trant (1769-1839), brigadier-general in the Portuguese army who belonged to an Irish family originally of Danish origin...
His grandfather, Dominick Trant of Dingle, co...

Trant migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Trant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jerry Trant, who settled in New York in 1851
Daniel Trant and Mary Trant, who settled in Boston in 1871

Trant migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trant Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Trant, who arrived in Canada in 1827

Trant migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Trant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Myra Trant, aged 23, a dressmaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842

Trant migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 8

Trant Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Larrance Trant, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Trant (post 1700) +

General Sir Richard "Dick" Brooking Trant KCB, DL (1928-2007), English officer in the British Army, Land Deputy Commander in the Falklands War, Quartermaster-General to the Forces from 1983 to 1986
Captain Nicholas Trant (1769-1839), British officer, known for his recapture of Coimbra from the French in October 1810
Dr. Valentine Trant McGillycuddy (1849-1939), American surgeon, surveyor and controversial pioneer, the first known person to climb Harney Peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Dr. Valentine Trant McGillycuddy (1849-1939), American surveyor, surgeon and early Native American spokesperson who treated Crazy Horse at the time of his death

The Trant 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: Augeo
Motto Translation: I increase.