Tristram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England

Early Origins of the Tristram family

The surname Tristram was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire at Dunall in the parish of Bampton.

Early History of the Tristram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tristram research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1510, and 1600 are included under the topic Early Tristram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tristram 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 Tristram, Trestram, Tristam and others.

Early Notables of the Tristram family (pre 1700)

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

Tristram migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Tristram:

Tristram Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ralph Tristram, who sailed to New England in 1652
Ralph Tristram, who arrived in New England in 1652 ^[1]

Tristram Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William H Tristram, who landed in New York, NY in 1838 ^[1]
William Tristram, who sailed to New York in 1838

Contemporary Notables of the name Tristram (post 1700) +

David Tristram (b. 1957), English comic playwright who has published twenty three plays, videos/two films and a comedy novel
The Reverend Henry Baker Tristram FRS (1822-1906), English clergyman, Biblical scholar, traveller and ornithologist
Ernest William Tristram (1882-1952), British art historian, artist and conservator, Professor of Design at the Royal College of Art (1926-1948)
Jenna Tristram (b. 1986), Australian footballer who has played for the Australia Nation Team since 2007
John William Tristram (1870-1938), Australian watercolour artist
Ernest Tristram Crutchley CB CMG CBE (1878-1940), British civil servant, the first British High Commissioner to Australia
Mr. Lawrence Tristram Smith B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to the community in Lewisham and Bromley, London
Hugo Tristram Engelhardt (b. 1941), American philosopher specializing in the history and philosophy of medicine
Mr. Tristram Andrew Harry Kirkwood O.B.E., British Commander for the Royal Navy, recipient of Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018 ^[2]
Tristram Cary (1925-2008), English composer

Citations +

^ 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)
^ "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists