TREBLE
The surname Treble is of English origin and is traditionally understood to arise from the Middle English word treble, meaning “triple” or “threefold.” In the early medieval period the name was often applied as a nickname to a person who sang in a high register or who performed three distinct duties or roles.
Historical records show the name taken on a number of variant spellings, including Trebel, Trebley and Treblett. In addition, the surname appears in a broad array of medieval forms such as Theobald, Tribble, Tudball, Tyreball and Dyball in England, and corresponding forms in continental Europe such as Thibald, Thibaud, and Thibout in France, Thibou in Belgium, Theobald and Thibaut in Germany and Tibold in Hungary.
The earliest linguistic root of the name is the Germanic element theudo meaning “people” and bald meaning “bold” or “brave”. This construction was common during the Dark Ages and the personal name was widespread before the Norman Conquest. Following the Norman invasion of 1066, bearers of the name settled in England and the hereditary surname came into use during the 12th century.
Documentary evidence of the surname in England begins in the early 13th century. An entry in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire records Hugo Tebaud in 1202, and a court roll of Suffolk cites William Theobald in 1250. A register of Ramsey Abbey records Simon Tebalde in 1255. Similar records in Germany attest to the name in 1420, 1435 and 1529. Church registers in England provide further documentary proof: the marriage of Francis Theobald and Judith Conquest at St. Dunstan's, East Stepney, on 20 February 1622, and the union of Joseph Tribell and Grace Winstanley at St. Dionis Backchurch, London, on 1 May 1687. The earliest known instance of the family name anywhere in the world is that of Tomas Teobald, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1199 during the reign of King Richard I.
Contemporary bearers of the surname continue to bear the legacy of this multifaceted nomenclature. The diversity of spelling reflects the historical fluidity of orthography and the geographical spread of the family line, underscoring the enduring nature of the name Treble within the English genealogical tradition.
Typical given names associated with the Treble surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Graham
- Jack
- James
- John
- Lee
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Nicolas
- Paul
- Roy
- Steven
- William
Female
- Angela
- Ann
- Clare
- Elizabeth
- Jean
- Jennifer
- Katie
- Margaret
- Olive
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Treble in...
Braille
⠞⠗⠑⠃⠇⠑
Morse
-.-..-....-...
Semaphore
There are approximately 534 people named Treble in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Treble.
Famous people named Treble
- Arthur Treble - Athlete (1889 to 1966)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.