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Triggs History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Triggs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The more common variants of this family, Trigg, Triggs and Trickey are all patronymic as in "the son of Trig." 1 The name tends to be from Northern England, but has spread throughout England. It is thought the name originated with the Norwegian Trygg, or the Old Norse Tryggui, meaning "true, trusty." 2

"Tryggui was, of course, the father of King Olaf Trygguason (Oláfr konungr Trygguason) of the sagas. The form in our 13th- 14th cent. records was Trig and Tryg. " 3

We do know that Tryggui was a Viking chieftain who sailed "west across the sea" to establish Norse settlements in England and Ireland.

Early Origins of the Triggs family

The surname Triggs was first found in Yorkshire where the mononym Trig was a Knights Templar in 1185. A few years later, William Trig was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1202. Later, Ralph Trigge was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1332. 4

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had spread throughout ancient England: Robert Trig, Cambridgeshire; William Triggs, Cambridgeshire; and Alan Trig, Lincolnshire. 1

In Somerset, a search through early rolls revealed William Tryg, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 5 In Yorkshire, Johannes Tryg was recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1

In Devon, the first record of the Trickey variant was found in 1238. 4

Early History of the Triggs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Triggs research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1547, 1549, 1589, 1597, 1606, 1657, 1685 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Triggs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Triggs Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Triggs were recorded, including Trigg, Trig, Trygg, Trygge, Tryg, Trick, Trigge, Trick and many more.

Early Notables of the Triggs family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Triggs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Triggs Ranking

In the United States, the name Triggs is the 11,135^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Triggs migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Triggs family emigrate to North America:

Triggs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Triggs, who landed in Virginia in 1622 7
Joane Triggs, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 7
William Triggs, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 7
Samll Triggs, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 7
Law Triggs, who landed in Virginia in 1651 7

Triggs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. John Triggs, (b. 1867), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving in New York, USA on 22 April 1889 8

Triggs migration to Australia +

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

Triggs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Mathew Triggs, British Convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for life for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eleanor" on 26th June 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Triggs, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. William Triggs, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Ebenezer Triggs, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Omega" 12
Mr. William Triggs, (b. 1831), aged 23, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 30th October 1853 aboard the ship "Omega" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 17th January 1854 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Triggs 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:

Triggs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Triggs, aged 37, a wheelwright, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Harriett Triggs, aged 36, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Eliza Triggs, aged 14, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Emma Triggs, aged 8, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
George Triggs, aged 6, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Triggs (post 1700) +

Trini Triggs (b. 1965), American country music artist from Natchitoches, Louisiana
Arthur Bryant Triggs (1868-1936), English-born, Australian grazier and collector, brother to Henry Inigo Triggs
Hon William Henry Triggs (1855-1934), English-born, New Zealand politician, member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1918 to 1932
Walter Henry Triggs (b. 1880), English professional footballer from Southampton, active from 1879 through 1902
Henry Inigo Triggs (1876-1923), English country house architect and designer of formal gardens, and author from Chiswick, London, best known for his landscaping design of the cottages of Whiteley Village, Walton on Thames, Surrey
John Triggs (b. 1976), British journalist and feature writer who has worked for the Daily Express, Sunday Express, The Independent, and News of the World
Gillian Doreen Triggs (b. 1945), Australian public international lawyer and academic, professor at the University of Sydney, Dean of the Sydney Law School (2007 to 2012)
Donald Triggs, Canadian co-founder of Vincor Canada, which later changed to Jackson-Triggs, a winery with vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia and the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Hayden Triggs (b. 1982), New Zealand professional rugby union player from Lower Hutt, who plays at lock for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and represents Waikato in the ITM Cup

Historic Events for the Triggs family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Thomas Kenneth Triggs, English Commander aboard the HMS Highflyer from Southsea, England, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Robert Triggs (1904-1941), Australian Master-At-Arms from Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 15

RMS Titanic

Mr. Robert Triggs (d. 1912), aged 40, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 16

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
"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 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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eleanor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Omega.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html