Show ContentsTrade History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Trade family

The surname Trade 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.

Early History of the Trade family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trade research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1778 is included under the topic Early Trade History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trade Spelling Variations

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 Trade include Trotha, Trothe (oldest form), Troetsch, Tretsch, Trotte, Trotta, Drothe, Trote, Trota, Drod, Drad and many more.

Early Notables of the Trade family

Notable figures of the time with the name Trade were Thilo von Trotha, who was unquestionably the most famous and important member of the family. He first served as canon of the Magdeburg...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trade Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Trade migration to the United States +

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:

Trade Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Trade, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 1


  1. 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)


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