Tranter

This surname was introduced into England by the 12th century Crusaders. It derives from the latin "Travetarius" and describes a merchant or early transport contractor - one who travelled. The development of the surname including the later intrusive "n", would seem to be dialectal, and a consequence of the introduction of Middle English and the suppression of Latin and French, both associated with the Normans, from the early 13th century. Like many such names the development is quite well recorded, although the reasons for such changes are sometimes difficult to understand. Amongst the very early recordings are those of Philip Trenter of Essex in 1221, Hugo Le Traunter, also of Essex in 1292, and Simon Le Traunter of Warwick in 1332. A short form of the name is Trant(e), and one Richard Trant was recorded as a land owner in Barbados in 1680. Other later recordings include James Trantor of London, who married Catherine Weathers at the famous church of St Katharines by the Tower, on December 27th 1699, in the reign of William of Orange. (1694 - 1702) The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Terri Travetarius which was dated 1148, in the Winton Rolls of Hampshire, during the reign of King Stephen of England 1135 - 1154. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.