Trimble

This is a surname of at least three possible origins. It may be Anglo-French and topographical, in which case the spellings include: Tremoille, Tremouille, Tremblet, Trembley, and Tremblot. In this case the surname derives from the Latin word "tremulare" used in ancient times to describe the aspen tree, a tree which was considered to "tremble," and hence the surname described somebody who lived by such a tree or trees. The second possible origin is English and a nickname. It was claimed by the famous Victorian etymologist Canon Charles Bardsley to be a variant spelling of the Cumberland surname Turnbull, and certainly in this county it is recorded in the varied spellings of Trumbull, Trembell, Trimble and Trumble. According to Barsley the surname dates back to medieval times when bull baiting was a popular sport, and to have the ability to "turn the bull" was a sobriquet of honour, only granted to those of considerable courage. The third possibility is even older and derives from the pre 7th century Olde English personal name "Trumbeort", meaning "strong and bold" of which the first known example of the spelling as a surname is that of Alan Tumbald of the Manor of Wakefield, in the county of Yorkshire in the year 1316. Other examples over the centuries include: David Trumbell of Cumberland in 1494, Anne Trumbel, christened at the famous church of St. Dunstans in the East, Stepney, in the year 1633, and Elizabeth Trimble who was baptised at St. Katherine's by the Tower (of London) on October 17th 1740. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.