Show ContentsTruitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Truitt surname comes from the place name Trewhitt in Northumberland; the first bearer of this surname was most likely someone who had come from that place to a new location.

Early Origins of the Truitt family

The surname Truitt was first found in Northumberland where the original reference of the name was found at High Trewhitt, and Low Trewhitt, townships, in the parish and union of Rothbury.

Originally named Tirwit (c. 1150-1162), the name possibly meant "river-bend where wood is obtained" 1 These small townships have grown little in size since early times as late as the mid 1800s, there were only 130 inhabitants there.

But looking back, other records show Sir Herculus de Trywhitt was knighted by Duke William in 1068 and granted the lands of Tyrwhitt or Terwit, however there is no record of the place in the Domesday Book.

Later John de Tyrwyt was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1296 and William Tyrwhit was listed in there in 1383. 2 The parish of Stainfield in Lincolnshire was an ancient homestead of the family. "There are some remains of an ancient mansion of the Tyrwhitt family, now occupied as a farmhouse." 3

Early History of the Truitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Truitt research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1577, 1598, 1611, 1624, 1628, 1633, 1663, 1667, 1688, 1708, 1730, 1741, 1760, 1786, 1808 and 1919 are included under the topic Early Truitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Truitt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Trywhitt, Terwitt, Trewitt, Trewhitt, Truitt, Terwit, Truet and many more.

Early Notables of the Truitt family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Philip Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet (d. 1624) of Stainfield in Lincolnshire; Sir Edward Tyrwhitt, 2nd Baronet (1577-1628); Sir Philip Tyrwhitt, 3rd Baronet (1598-c. 1667); Sir...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Truitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Truitt Ranking

In the United States, the name Truitt is the 3,367th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4


Truitt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Truitt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Truitt Jr. landed in Virginia sometime in the 17th century
  • George Truitt Sr. landed in Virginia sometime in the 17th century
  • Jon Truitt, who landed in Virginia in 1642 5
Truitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles S. Truitt, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1906
  • Mary Eliz. Truitt, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States, in 1914
  • Mrs C P Truitt, aged 71, who landed in America, in 1914
  • Clarence Truitt, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921
  • Harry Truitt, who settled in America, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Truitt (post 1700) +

  • Stephen M. Truitt, American activist lawyer
  • Reginald Van Trump Truitt (1890-1991), American zoologist, Army officer, and college lacrosse player and coach, founder of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
  • Daniel "Dan" Truitt, American engineer and politician, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 156th district (2011-2016)
  • Oadline Truitt (b. 1940), American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2008
  • George Truitt (1756-1818), American farmer and politician, 17th Governor of Delaware (1808-1811)
  • Frank Wilson Truitt Jr. (1925-2014), American multi-sport collegiate coach
  • Olanda Raynard Truitt (b. 1971), American former NFL football wide receiver
  • David Moreland Truitt (b. 1964), American NFL football player
  • Anne Truitt (1921-2004), American major artist of the mid-20th century
  • James Truitt (d. 1981), American journalist

USS Indianapolis
  • Robert Edward Truitt, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 6


The Truitt 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: Time tryeth truth
Motto Translation: Time tests faith


Suggested Readings for the name Truitt +

  • Truitt Tracings by Myrtis Irene Siddon.

  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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