TREVOR
Trevor is a surname of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Trefor, which in Welsh means great settlement or large village. As a locational surname it indicates that the earliest bearers of the name were associated with a place called Trevor, or with one of the villages by that name. The earliest documented instances appear in Wales from the medieval period, and the name has subsequently spread to other English‑speaking countries through migration and colonisation.
Variations of the surname have been recorded without any uniform spelling; the forms Trever, Trevor, Trevers and Trevear appear in contemporary church registers. While the surname is predominantly Welsh, some early records suggest a possible Cornish origin, since there are villages named Trevor in Cornwall as well. The etymology from the ancient Celtic words tre mor – meaning approximately “mor's homestead” – has, over centuries of pronunciation, been transposed into the modern form Trevor.
The surname is relatively uncommon among typical Welsh or Irish surnames, with fewer than a dozen examples in the latter countries according to historical estimates. Nonetheless, Trevor is well documented in the surviving church registers of the city of London and in Cornwall. Notable early entries include Alice Trever of St Andrews Holborn, London, dated 1 December 1546, under the reign of King Henry VIII; Valluntin Trevor of St Margarets Westminster, dated 24 October 1586; and Roger Trevor of St Germans, Cornwall, dated 29 August 1596.
In contemporary times the surname is fairly common in many parts of the world, denoting a heritage that remains tightly linked with its Welsh roots. Its simple yet evocative meaning, coupled with its clear locational origin, has allowed the name to maintain its historical significance while adapting to modern contexts across the globe.
Typical given names associated with the Trevor surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Caroline
- Claire
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rachel
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Traver
- Travers
- Traverse
- Travar
- Darfoor
- Darver
- Derfauer
- Doerffer
- Draiver
- Drapher
- Draver
- Dreaver
- Drevar
- Drever
- Drevor
- Driver
- Drivor
- Drover
- Durfer
- Tarver
- Tarvor
- Traford
- Traverce
- Travert
- Travier
- Travor
- Treaver
- Treavor
- Treever
- Treffers
- Trefford
- Trefor
- Trevarrow
- Trever
- Treverrow
- Trevers
- Treversh
- Trevoor
- Trevorah
- Trevorow
- Trevorrah
- Trevorron
- Trevorrow
- Trevors
- Trevran
- Trofer
- Trover
- Truver
- Turver
- Trafford
- Traversa
- Traverso
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Trevor in...
Braille
⠞⠗⠑⠧⠕⠗
Morse
-.-.....----.-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,580 people named Trevor in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,131st most common surname in Britain. Around 24 in a million people in Britain are named Trevor.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Trevor
- William Trevor - Irish writer (1928 to 2016)
- Austin Trevor - Actor (1897 to 1978)
- Elleston Trevor - Novelist and playwright (1920 to 1995)
- Horace Trevor-Cox - Politician (1908 to 2005)
- Spencer Trevor - Actor (1875 to 1945)
- Herbert Trevor - Cricketer (1871 to 1939)
- Matthew Trevor - Cricketer
- John B. Trevor - American politician (1788 to 1860)
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.