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The surname Trotha was first found in the Prussian province of Magdeburg, where the name, derived from this family's seat Trothe near the city of Halle, later emerged in the Middle Ages as one of the most powerful and famous families of the region. There is much speculation on which period the family first arouse, but nothing is certain. What can be said is that the Trothe family was one the oldest families of this entire region and belonged to the nobility long before the first chronicles mention them. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. By the 14th century the family had established their fame and were the largest landowners of Magdeburg-Saxony.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trotha research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1778 is included under the topic Early Trotha History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Trotha include Trotha, Trothe (oldest form), Troetsch, Tretsch, Trotte, Trotta, Drothe, Trote, Trota, Drod, Drad and many more.
Notable figures of the time with the name Trotha were
Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Johann Conrad Trott, who came to Philadelphia in 1785.