TRUMP
The surname Trump is recognised as an English family name, its presence being rooted in the British Isles and recorded in a variety of medieval documents.
It derives from a Middle English word verbatim trump, which was used to denote a musical instrument of the brass family, a trumpet. Consequently, one of the earliest plausible origins of the name is occupational, referring either to a player of the instrument or to an artisan who manufactured trumpets.
Another potential source of the surname is the verb trump in the sense of “to brag” or “to triumph.” If a person was so named acts as a nickname for a talkative or boastful individual, marking a personal characteristic rather than a vocation.
In some dialects the word trump also denotes a small hill or mound. Under this interpretation the surname could be locational, identifying a person who lived in proximity to such a feature.
From a historical standpoint, the name is linked to the pre‑8th century Old French word Trompeor. Following the Norman invasion of 1066, the surname was introduced to England by Norman settlers. The spelling has evolved from variants such as Trumper and Trumpur to the modern form currently in use.
Existing documentary evidence attests to the early existence of the name. The Calendar of Inquisitions for the county of Cumberland records a Patrick Trumpe in 1275. Likewise, the Hundred Rolls of 1279 mention a Nicholas Trump in the county of Cambridge. Subsequent records include William Trompeur in the Letter Rolls of London (1320) and John le Trumpour in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire (1327). A further early spelling is Adam Trumpur, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Essex during the reign of King Edward I, between 1272 and 1307.
The age of the surname also coincides with individual migrations beyond the British continent. An example is Humphrey Trump, taken to the West Indies in 1685 as part of a punitive expedition against Monmouth rebels under Judge Jefferies. He had been held in Membury, Devon, and was sentenced to ten years of hard labour, an unusually lenient punishment for the period.
While contemporary colloquial English features a humorous usage of the word “trump” to mean “fart,” the formal and historical examinations of the surname focus on its occupational, nicknaming and locational origins, together with its Norman roots and documented medieval use. The name remains a succinct illustration of how English surnames can encapsulate both personal characteristics and cultural histories.
Typical given names associated with the Trump surname
Male
- Andrew
- Daniel
- David
- Donald
- Jamie
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Bridget
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Georgina
- Joanne
- Julie
- Linda
- Lisa
- Louise
- Margaret
- Sally
- Samantha
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 Trump in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 600 people named Trump in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named Trump.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Trump
- Donald Trump Jr. - American businessman and son of U.S. President Donald Trump
- Melania Trump - First Lady of the United States, former Slovenian model
- Donald Trump - 45th and current president of the United States
- Ivanka Trump - American businesswoman, socialite, fashion model, and daughter of Donald Trump
- Judd Trump - Snooker player
- Mary Anne MacLeod Trump - Mother of Donald Trump (1912 to 2000)
- Fred Trump - American real estate developer (1905 to 1999)
- Tiffany Trump - American Internet personality and daughter of Donald Trump and Marla Maples
- Barron Trump - Son of Donald and Melania Trump
- Ivana Trump - Czech model and entrepreneur
- Eric Trump - American businessman and philanthropist
- Vanessa Trump - American model and actress
- Frederick Trump - German-born American businessman (1869 to 1918)
- Lara Trump - American television producer and campaign adviser
- Harvey Trump - Cricketer
- Len Trump - Welsh rugby union and rugby league football player (1887 to 1948)
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.