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Trent History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Trent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon name Trent comes from the family having resided in the settlement of Trent in the county of Dorset, or on the banks of the Trent River. [1] This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Trente. [2] The surname Trent belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, farmsteads, or other locations. "Anglo-Saxon charters Trenta, Traenta, the Treonta of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles A.D. 924, and the Treanta of Baeda. In my opinion the name is a survival of the Latin torrent-em (Ital. torrénte), a torrent, in allusion to the famous bore or eagre of the lower part of the river." [3]

Early Origins of the Trent family

The surname Trent was first found in Somerset where John de Trente was recorded in the 12th century. Later in London, William Trent was listed in 1300 and later again, Peter Trente was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1351. [1] Trent is a parish, in the union of Sherborne, hundred of Horethorne, E. division of Somerset. [4] Gilbert de Trent was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) [5]

The Tranter variant is most interesting. The name evolved from the occupation for someone "who peddles and hawks from place to place," to the spelling Trant. Terri Trauetarius was listed at Winton, Hampshire in 1148 followed by Philip Trenter in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1221. Again in Essex, we found Hugo le Tranuenter in 1292 and in Cornwall, Mark le Traveter was listed in 1306. Simon le Traunter was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. [1] Records in 1547, show the Churchwardens' Accounts in Ludlow having noted Agnes Traunter and Annes Tranter. [6]

Further to the north in Scotland, the name "is a curtailed form of Tranent. William Trent was a monk of Cupar Abbey in 1456, and in 1521 Petrus Trent witnessed a tack by the abbot of the same house. John Trent was tenant of the Abbey of Neubotle in 1563, a later John Trent was retoured heir of James Trent in Newbottell, his father, in 1638 and in 1661 William Trent was retoured heir of John Trent, his father." [7]

Early History of the Trent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trent research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1456, 1622, 1638, 1655, 1672, 1689, 1724, 1739, 1769, 1787 and 1839 are included under the topic Early Trent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trent Spelling Variations

Trent has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Trent, Trente, Trend and others.

Early Notables of the Trent family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trent Ranking

In the United States, the name Trent is the 1,281^st most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. [8]

Trent migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Trents to arrive on North American shores:

Trent Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jo Trent, aged 27, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Plain Joan" [9]
Humphrey Trent, who settled in Virginia in 1638
Humphry Trent, who landed in Virginia in 1638 [9]
John Trent, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 [9]
John Trent, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 [9]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Trent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Valentine Trent, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1811 [9]

Trent migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trent Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Trent, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Trent migration to Australia +

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

Trent Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Trent, (b. 1854), aged Infant, Cornish settler born aboard the ship "Clara" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 19th November 1854 [10]

Trent 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:

Trent Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Frederick Trent, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred The Great" in 1859
Mr. Trent, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1863 [11]

Contemporary Notables of the name Trent (post 1700) +

Charles Wilburn "Buck" Trent (1938-2023), American country music instrumentalist
Charles Wilburn "Buck" Trent (b. 1938), American country music instrumentalist
Alphonse "Alphonso" Trent (1905-1959), American Jazz pianist and band leader
Morgan Trent (b. 1985), American NFL football cornerback
Gary Dajaun Trent (b. 1974), American retired professional NBA basketball player
Dr. John Trent, American author of Christian marriage and family books
Derek Trent (b. 1980), American retired competitive skater pair skater
Major William Trent (1715-1787), American soldier and merchant in the French and Indian Wars, son of William Trent, founder of Trenton, New Jersey
William Peterfield Trent (1862-1939), American professor of English literature at Columbia University
Jackie Trent (1940-2015), born Yvonne Burgess, British singer/songwriter
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Trent 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: Augeo
Motto Translation: I increase.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html