Troebrish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Troebrish is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Troebrish family lived in Devon, at Trowbridge. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word for a wooden bridge.

"The name signifies 'through the bridge;' perhaps given for some feat of daring, or bodily courage." 1

Early Origins of the Troebrish family

The surname Troebrish was first found in Devon where conjecturally they are believed to be descended from two Norman knights Richard and Reginald who held the lands of Modbury from the Count of Mortaine as shown in the Domesday Book which was surveyed in 1086 A.D. The land was shown to have 30 goats. 2

Trowbridge is also a market-town and parish, in the union and hundred of Melksham, Westbury and N. divisions, and Trowbridge and Bradford subdivisions, of Wiltshire. "It was anciently a royal manor, forming part of the duchy of Lancaster, having been granted by the crown to John of Gaunt. The estate afterwards reverted to the crown, and was given by Henry VIII., in the 28th year of his reign, to Sir Edward Seymour, Knt., Viscount Beauchamp." 3 So, while one would presume that this market-town was the place of origin of the surname, it was indeed not.

Early rolls include Walter de Trobrigge in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1184 and William de Trewebrugg in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. 4

In Somerset, Richard Trowbrigge; John de Trowbrugge; and William de Trowbrugge were recorded 1 Edward III, (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Troebrish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Troebrish research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1583, 1731, 1758, 1768, 1773, 1774, 1776, 1780, 1781, 1807 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Troebrish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Troebrish Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Trowbridge, Troubridge, Trobridge and others.

Early Notables of the Troebrish family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Troubridge (1758?-1807), rear-admiral, born in London about 1758, son of Richard Troubridge. He was admitted on the foundation of St. Paul's school, London, on 22 Feb. 1768, ‘aged 10’ (Gardiner, Register of St. Paul's School, p. 139). It is doubtfully said (Naval Chronicle, xxiii. 1) that he made, as a boy, a voyage to the West Indies in a merchant ship. All that is certainly known is that he entered the navy on board the Seahorse frigate on 8 Oct. 1773, in the rating of ‘able seaman,’ and was then described...
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Troebrish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Troebrish family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, travelling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Troebrish or a variant listed above: Thomas Trowbridge, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1636; James Trowbridge, who was on record in Dorchester, MA in 1658; John Trowbridg(e), who was on record in New England in 1668.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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.