Trendle

This interesting 'Norfolk' locational name is believed to derive from the Village of Trendale in the Parish of Pitminster, Somerset. For reasons unproven, the inhabitants of Trendale seem to have moved as a body across England to Norfolk between the years 1260 and 1360, with some nameholders putting down roots on the way. There was originally a scattering of 'Trendells' in the Hertford area, but the spelling as Trundle is pure Norfolk from the mid 16th century. The village name derives from the Olde British 'trenta' meaning river or possibly river crossing, plus 'dael' - a valley. The eminent Victorian etymologist Canon Charles Bardsley also considered that the name was especially noteworthy for the very large number of ecclesiastical recordings of which examples are Thomas Trendyl in the first recording below, John Tryndell, Rector of Wimbotsham, Norfolk 1569, John Trundell, Rector of Bexwell, Norfolk, 1565, Thomas Trendle, Vicar of Mendham, Norfolk, 1631. Also recorded are Judith Trundle, who in 1733, married Lawrence Allison at St Georges Church, Hanover Square, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Trendyl, which was dated 1360, who was Vicar of Witton, Norfolk, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as the Father of the Navy, 1327 - 1377. 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.