Show ContentsTeign History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Teign

What does the name Teign mean?

The Scottish Teign surname is most likely a habitational name, taken on from a place name; perhaps from the Gaelic "Traill Creek" which runs into Upper Loch Torridon.

Alternatively, the name could have originated in Normandy, France. In this case they claim descent from " the castle of Trely, in La Manche. "Two barons of this name appear in England, sub-tenants of the great Honour of Verdun."—Sir Francis Palgrave. The Trelys or Traillys are said to have been a branch of the noble family of St. Denis-le-Gast, of whose barony their Norman fief formed part. Lysons mentions them among "the earliest extinct families" that held property in Bedfordshire." 1

Early Origins of the Teign family

The surname Teign was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where they were Lords of the Manor of Yielden and other estates in that shire as shown in the Domesday Book taken in the year 1086. 2

Geoffrey de Traillgi, a knight at the Battle of Hastings, was an under-tenant of the Bishop of Coutances. He was originally from Trelly in the arrondisement of Manche, Coutances in Normandy. Geoffrey also held Teign, in Devon. 3

The family joined the many Norman nobles who moved north into Scotland.

Some of the first records of the family in Scotland include: Thomas Trayle, Canon of Aberdeen in 1366; and Walter Trail (Trayl, or Treyl, or Treyle), of the family of Traill of Blebo in Fife, Bishop of St. Andrews in 1385. 4

Early History of the Teign family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Teign research. Another 409 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1218, 1219, 1290, 1316, 1350, 1378, 1380, 1395, 1401, 1409, 1523, 1583, 1603, 1642, 1678, 1716, 1765 and 1808 are included under the topic Early Teign History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Teign Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Trail, Traill, Trayle, Treil, Trelly, Teign, Pentrail, Traylor and many more.

Early Notables of the Teign family

Notable among the family at this time was Walter Trail (died 1401), late 14th century Bishop of St. Andrews, appears as an official in the Bishopric of Glasgow in 1378, as a Magister Artium and a Licentiate in Canon and civil law, In 1380, he is a doctor in Canon and Civil Law...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Teign Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Teign family to Ireland

Some of the Teign family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Teign family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Robert Trayle, who came to Virginia in 1673; William Traill, who settled in Maryland in 1684; a Captain Traill, who settled in Boston in 1763; George Traill, who arrived in Boston in 1746.



The Teign 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: Discrimine salus
Motto Translation: Safety in danger.


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. 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)
  4. 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)


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