TREHERNE
The surname Treherne is a locational or topographic name of English origin, recorded in the British Isles. It is associated with the Christian faith of its bearers and originates from the Anglo‑Saxon period.
Etymological background:
The family name is derived from Old English elements. One interpretation, cited in early record, combines treow, meaning “tree”, with hyrne, meaning “corner” or “angle”. The name is thought to have been applied to persons living near a prominent tree or near a bend or corner in a road or river. This topographic observation is reflected in the way the name was passed down as a hereditary surname.
Another common interpretation, found in Cornwall and sometimes in Wales, sees the element tre meaning “homestead” or “settlement” and hern meaning “iron”. The suggestion that iron deposits were found in ancient times in Cornwall and Wales ties the surname to the geography of the region. The spelling of the name has varied widely: Treherne, Trehearne, Treharne, Trahearn and the dialectal Trayhorne.
Historical records:
The earliest known spelling is that of Balthasar Treherne, dated 1565 at St. Annes Church in Blackfriars, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558‑1603). Subsequent records include Marie Treherne, christened on 1 May 1578 at St. Mary Aldermary in London; Evan Trayhorne, a Welsh witness at St. Dunstans Church, Stepney, on 29 March 1649; and Edwina Boucher Treharne, daughter of William Treharne, christened 19 December 1669 at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster.
In 1622 John Trehearne, aged 33, was recorded as living in Virginia, a detail that shows the migration of bearers of the name to the Americas in the early seventeenth century.
Collectively, the evidence shows that the surname Treherne is firmly rooted in Anglo‑Saxon England, with a descriptive origin tied to natural or man‑made landmarks and a recorded presence in parish registers from the late sixteenth to mid‑seventeenth centuries.
Typical given names associated with the Treherne surname
Male
- Charles
- Christopher
- Ian
- John
- Jonathan
- Mark
- Matthew
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Simon
- Thomas
Female
- Anna
- Barbara
- Carol
- Cheryl
- Jennifer
- Joan
- Kelly
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
- Susannah
- Victoria
- Wendy
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 Treherne in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 462 people named Treherne in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around seven in a million people in Britain are named Treherne.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
