Trait History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Trait

What does the name Trait mean?

Trait is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Trait family lived in Yorkshire, at Treeton.

Early Origins of the Trait family

The surname Trait was first found in Yorkshire where Richard of Treeton (Turton) held that village consisting of a church and a mill from the Count of Mortain at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book.

Early History of the Trait family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trait research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1603, 1618, 1622, 1628, 1649, 1662, 1669, 1683, 1698 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Trait History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trait Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval 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. The name has been spelled Turton, Treeton, Treton and others.

Early Notables of the Trait family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Turton, Judge of the King's Bench who opposed King Charles I; Richard Treat (or Trott) (1584-1669), an early settler in New England and a patentee of the Royal Charter of Connecticut, 1662; and Robert Treat (1622-1710), an American colonial leader, militia officer...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trait Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trait family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Trait or a variant listed above: Francis Turton who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his servants; Thomas Turton settled in Virginia in 1663; Timothy Turton settled in Virginia in 1652.