Show ContentsTraquair History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Traquair family

The surname Traquair was first found in Peeblesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd nam Pùballan), former county in South-central Scotland, in the present day Scottish Borders Council Area, where they held a family seat on the lands of Traquair in the parish of Traquair from very ancient times. Although Magistrate Alan de Traquair was the first on record in 1250 it can be assumed that the lands were held by the family at least 100 years before. Following the pattern of settlers in the district, many grants were made by King David of Scotland to his Norman friends who moved north after the Barons War with King Stephen of England in 1137. Similarly, it was the Norman custom for the second son to adopt the surname of his estates, hence Traquair.

Early History of the Traquair family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Traquair research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1265, 1315 and 1618 are included under the topic Early Traquair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Traquair Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Traquair, Tracquaire, Traquaire, Tracquair and others.

Early Notables of the Traquair family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • Thomas Traquair, Deacon of Angus


United States Traquair migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Traquair Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Traquair who landed in North America in 1710

New Zealand Traquair 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:

Traquair Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Traquair, (b. 1829), aged 34, British mason travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 1
  • Mrs. Eliza Traquair, (b. 1830), aged 33, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 1


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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