Trefor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Wales
• Ireland

Etymology of Trefor

The Trefor family name comes from the name of either of the Welsh settlements called Trevor in Denbigh and Anglesey. As such, the surname Trefor belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Trefor family

Early History of the Trefor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trefor research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1346, 1357, 1410, 1563, 1596, 1618, 1620, 1626, 1630, 1637, 1641, 1642, 1644, 1658, 1669, 1670, 1672, 1673, 1693, 1695, 1706, 1717, 1730 and 1851 are included under the topic Early Trefor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trefor Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Trefor have included Trevor, Trefor and others.

Early Notables of the Trefor family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was John Trevor (died 1357), Bishop of St Asaph in North Wales, (1346 to 1357); John Trevor (died 1410), or John Trevaur, Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales and later became nominal Bishop of St Andrews in Scotland; Sir John Trevor (1563-1630), MP and Surveyor of the Queen's Ships; Sir John Trevor (1596-1673), his son, MP from 1620, member of the Council of State during the Protectorate...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Trefor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trefor family to Ireland

Some of the Trefor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 132 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Trefor family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Trefor: Samuel Trevor, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1795; followed by Caleb in 1798; William Trevore settled in Massachusetts in 1620; Thomas Trevors settled in Maryland in 1766..