Show ContentsTrengrove History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Trengrove

What does the name Trengrove mean?

The Atlantic Ocean to the north and west and the English Channel to the south borders Cornwall, the homeland to the Trengrove family name. Even though the usage of surnames was common during the Middle Ages, all English people were known only by a single name in early times. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Trengrove family originally lived in the village of Nanfan, in Cornwall. Members of the family were involved in the blacksmith trade and prior to the 18th century often went by the occupational name Trengove, from the Cornish words tren meaning strong, and angove, meaning smith. Many used the name Trengoff of Nance.

Early Origins of the Trengrove family

The surname Trengrove was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat from early times.

The manor of Truthal in the parish of Sithney, Cornwall was "granted to the family of Nants or Nance, [after the Reformation] who were succeeded in the possession by the Arundells of Tolverne." 1

Early History of the Trengrove family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trengrove research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1521, 1547, 1553, 1561 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Trengrove History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trengrove Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and 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 of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Nance, Trengove, Trengoff, Trengrove and others.

Early Notables of the Trengrove family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trengrove Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trengrove family to Ireland

Some of the Trengrove family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Trengrove migration to the United States +

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Trengrove or a variant listed above:

Trengrove Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Trengrove, (b. 1825), aged 26, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Mrs. Mary Trengrove, (b. 1823), aged 28, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Mr. James Trengrove, (b. 1828), aged 23, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mecca" arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851 2
  • Mrs. Susan Trengrove, (b. 1864), aged 25, Cornish settler departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving in the United States on 22 April 1889 2
  • Mr. Richard Trengrove, (b. 1887), aged 2, Cornish settler departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving in the United States on 22 April 1889 2

Trengrove migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Trengrove Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ezekiel Trengrove, (b. 1804), aged 25 born in Redruth, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 13th January 1829, sentenced for 7 years for stealing a box, transported aboard the ship "York" on 1829 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 3
  • Mr. Thomas Trengrove, (b. 1822), aged 27, Cornish blacksmith from Gwennap, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Vincent" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 11th March 1849 4
  • Mr. Thomas Trengrove, (b. 1823), aged 26, Cornish blacksmith from Perranwell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Elizabeth" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 23rd July 1849 4
  • Mr. John Trengrove, (b. 1820), aged 29, Cornish blacksmith from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 17th November 1849 4
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Trengrove, (b. 1822), aged 27, Cornish settler from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 17th November 1849 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Trengrove 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:

Trengrove Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel C. Trengrove, (b. 1839), aged 23, British blacksmith travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 5
  • Miss Martha J. Trengrove, (b. 1842), aged 20, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 5
  • Miss Mary Ann Trengrove, (b. 1842), aged 20, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 5
  • Mr. Samuel C. Trengrove, (b. 1848), aged 23, English blacksmith from Middelsex, England, travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship 'Merope' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th August 1871 5
  • Miss Martha J. Trengrove, (b. 1851), aged 20, English general servant from Middelsex, England, travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship 'Merope' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th August 1871 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  5. 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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