Trusell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Trusell was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Trusell is for a packer. The name was originally derived from the Old French word trousser, meaning to package.

In France, "Guido Trussel was a distinguished Crusader 1096. He was Lord of Montcheri, and Seneschal of France. Osbert Trussel in 1165 held a fief from the Earl of Warwick, and Fulco de Trussel one in Norfolk from the see of Ely 1. William T., son of Osbert, was a benefactor to Sulby Abbey, Northamptonshire." 2

Two villages are named Trussell in England: Marston Trussell, a village and civil parish in the Daventry district in Northamptonshire; and Acton Trussell a village in Staffordshire. Richard Trussell was lord of the manor Marston Trussell Hall in 1233, but the Trussells of Marston died out in the 14th century and the Hall later became the family seat of a Bennett family.

Early Origins of the Trusell family

The surname Trusell was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat at Billesley. "Milo de Brai, father of Hugh Trussel, married c. 1070, Litheuil, Viscountess of Troyes; and c. 1064 founded Longport Abbey, Normandy. Guido Trussel was a distinguished Crusader 1096. He was Lord of Montcheri and Seneschal of France." 2

"The most distinguished personage of the name was the famous [Sir] William Trussell, who was in such estimation with the [House of] Commons in convention assembled, as to be chosen their organ [representative] to pronounce the deposition of the unfortunate Edward II." 3

"An ancient Norman family, located, in the reign of Henry I., in Warwickshire. The baronage mentions, as of this family, Richard Trussel, who fell at the battle of Evesham, temp. Henry III." 4

"Trussell is the name of a distinguished Northamptonshire family of the 14th and 15th centuries, now rarely represented in the county, that hailed originally from Billesley, Warwickshire, in the 12th century." 5

"In 1844 was found, without the walls of the present churchyard [of Billesley, Warwickshire], a stone coffin, containing a head, supposed to be that of a member of the Trussell family (anciently connected with the parish) who was slain at the battle of Evesham." 6

Early History of the Trusell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trusell research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1221, 1265, 1318, 1319, 1322, 1326, 1330, 1342, 1620 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Trusell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trusell Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Trusell were recorded, including Trussel, Trussell, Trussele, Trusselle and others.

Early Notables of the Trusell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Trussel or Trussell sometimes styled Baron Trussell (fl. 1330), son of Edmund Trussel of Peatling in Leicestershire and Cubblesdon in Staffordshire. "He was pardoned as one of the adherents of Thomas of Lancaster on 1 Nov. 1318, and was returned as knight of the shire for Northampton in 1319. Both he and his son were in arms with...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trusell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trusell family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Trusell arrived in North America very early: John Trussell who settled in Virginia in 1622; Ann Trussell who landed in America in 1761; and Franklin Trussell landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1867..

Citations +

Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.