Show ContentsTrevail History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Trevail family

The surname Trevail was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Cubert. Cornwall was a land set apart, a land of mystique and quaint customs, more strongly related to Brittany and Wales than to England. It was not until the 10th century that they submitted to the Saxon rule of England. Since then, their influence has moved east into Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Early History of the Trevail family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trevail research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trevail History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trevail Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Trevail, Trevale, Trevall and others.

Early Notables of the Trevail family

More information is included under the topic Early Trevail Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Trevail 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:

Trevail Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Annie Trevail, (b. 1854), aged 19, Cornish servant departing on 3rd August 1873 aboard the ship "Merope" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 31st October 1873 1
  • Miss Jane Trevail, (b. 1859), aged 15, Cornish servant departing on 7th May 1874 aboard the ship "Eastern Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd July 1874 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Trevail (post 1700) +

  • Silvanus Trevail, English architect of the 19th century


  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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