Trencher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Trencher

What does the name Trencher mean?

Trencher is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name Trencher comes from 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. 1

Anciently the family came from Normandy, France and while the family became a noted English family shortly after the Conquest, not all of the family made the trip as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Richard Trenchart in Normandy in 1198. 2

Early Origins of the Trencher family

The surname Trencher was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Ralph Trencart, Trenchard was listed as holding lands in Somerset. 3 Later Robert Trenchart was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 as holding lands in Hampshire. 1

"Baldwin de Ripariis, Earl of Devon, granted Hordhill, in the Isle of Wight, to the ancestor of this family, Paganus Trenchard, temp. Henry I. The name is most probably derived from the Old French trencher, to carve; and it may refer to the occupation of the original bearer, either as a carver of viands, or as owner of a trenchant blade in war." 4

The family rose to prominence in Dorset and was most notable in this area for centuries.

Early History of the Trencher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trencher research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1548, 1582, 1586, 1588, 1601, 1613, 1621, 1625, 1630, 1640, 1657, 1662, 1684, 1695, 1713, 1720, 1723, 1754, 1758, 1873, 1919, 1923, 1930, 1936, 1951, 1956, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1999 are included under the topic Early Trencher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trencher Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval 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. The name has been spelled Trenchard, Trancherd, Trencher, Trenchar and others.

Early Notables of the Trencher family

George Trenchard (c. 1548-1630), of Wolveton and later of Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, an English politician; George Trenchard, an English politician, Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorset in 1601; and George Trenchard (c. 1684-1758), of Lytchett Matravers, near Poole, Dorset, a British landowner and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons for 35 years between 1713 and 1754. John Trenchard (1586-1662), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons, Member of Parliament for Wareham (1621-1625); Sir Thomas Trenchard (1582-1657) of...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trencher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trencher migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Trencher or a variant listed above:

Trencher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Symon Trencher, who landed in Virginia in 1637 5
William Trencher, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 5

Trencher migration to Canada +

Trencher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Benjamin Trencher was a blacksmith of Lower Island Cove, Newfoundland in 1838 6

The Trencher 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.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0