Traill (surname) facts for kids

The surname Traill (also spelled Trail, Traille, or Traily) comes from a very old Norse word. It traveled through France, especially the area called Normandy, before becoming known in Scotland. From Scotland, the name spread to many other parts of the world.

The Traill family is mentioned in records in France as early as the 10th century. They were important landowners, called Barons, in Britain from the 11th century. In Scotland, they became known as Lairds (landowners) from the 14th century, especially in Orkney. Later, in the 17th century, many Traills became well-known in Northern Ireland. They also moved to different parts of the United States, including the Cajun community. In the 19th century, some family branches settled in Argentina and other British Colonies.

Traills in France

The Traill name has a history in France. A person named Goidfrid de Traillie came to England with William the Conqueror in the 11th century. He owned land in Bedford and near the Scottish border.

The Traills owned land in a place called Trelly in France and later in Bordeaux. Before 1391, Sir John Trailly became the Mayor of Bordeaux, which was an important job. Some Traill family members still live in France today.

Traills in Scotland

After 1360, some members of the Traill family began to move from England to Scotland and France. Sir John Treyl's son, John, sometimes returned to England and served in the House of Commons of England, which is like a part of the government. His other son, Reginald, came back from Bordeaux and sold the family's English properties by 1404.

Around 1385, Sir John's brother, Walter Treyl, who was a Bishop in St Andrews, bought a large property called Blebo from the Church. He later left it to his nephew, Thomas.

Robert Traill of Greyfriars was born in 1603. He was the grandson of the Laird of Blebo. He studied at St Andrews University and later in France. He even taught English to the sister of a French Duke in 1628.

In 1609, John Traill, who was the Laird of Blebo at the time, divided the large Blebo property. He did this with his eldest son to help his younger brother, Thomas. The smaller part became known as Blebo Hole. In the 16th century, another brother, George Traill, moved to Orkney, Scotland, and then to County Antrim, which is now in Northern Ireland.

In 1722, valuable lead and silver were found on the Blebo property. The area around Blebo Hole is now a community called Blebo Craigs. Blebo is in Central Fife, about three miles (five km) east of Cupar. It includes the village of Blebo Craigs and several farms.

Some Traills from Birsay on Orkney include Samuel Trail and his son James W. H. Trail. Thomas Stewart Traill was from Kirkwall.

Traills in Ireland

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Reverend Anthony Traill (1745–1852) was an important church leader in Ireland. He was the Rector of Skull and an Archdeacon.

His son, Reverend Robert Traill (1793–1847), also served as Rector of Skull during the terrible Great Famine. He worked hard to help the poor people and bring attention to their suffering. He also translated an important historical book called The Jewish War. His story was even shown on the TV series Victoria, which showed how the Famine affected the Queen and her connection with Reverend Traill.

In 1904, Anthony Traill (1838–1914) became the head of Trinity College, Dublin, which is a famous university.

William Atcheson Traill (1844–1933) was an Irish engineer. He helped start the Giant's Causeway Railway and Tramway Company, which opened in 1887.

Traills in the United States

In the mid-17th century, Traills bought and settled land in North America, in Massachusetts and Maryland. The Maryland area, called New Scotland Hundred, eventually became the city of Washington DC. The Maryland Traills also owned large estates in what are now Montgomery County and Frederick County. The name also spread to Louisiana, Alabama, and other southern states.

The name "Traille" is also found among the Cajun community in the southern United States.

Traills Around the World

In the 19th century, the sons of Robert Traill moved to Argentina. His grandson, Johnny Traill, became the first Irish-Argentine 10-goal polo player, which is a very high achievement in polo.

Other branches of the Traill family settled in countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Traills in Books

The book Silver River by Daisy Goodwin tells a story that is partly based on the real experiences of her own Traill family. It follows the family's journey from her great-great-great-grandfather, Rector Robert Traill of Skull, during the Great Famine of Ireland, through their move to Argentina, and up to her own life.

People with the Surname Traill

• Anthony Traill (college provost) (1838–1914), head of Trinity College Dublin
• Anthony Traill (linguist) (1939–2007), a linguist from South Africa
• Anthony Traill (priest) (1755–1831), a church leader in Ireland
• Barry Traill (born 2000s), an Australian zoologist who works to protect animals
• Catharine Parr Traill (1802–1899), an English-Canadian author and naturalist (someone who studies nature)
• Elsie Traill (1876–1946), an Australian who gave money to help others
• Eric Sinclair Traill (1905–1981), a British publisher and jazz music critic
• George Traill (1787–1871), a Scottish politician
• Henry Duff Traill (1842–1900), a British author and journalist
• James Traill (disambiguation), several people, including:
  • James Traill (bishop), an Anglican bishop
  • James Traill (cricketer), an English cricketer
  • James Hamilton Traill, an Australian flying ace (a pilot who shot down many enemy planes)
• Jessie Traill (1881–1967), an Australian artist known for her prints
• John Traill (1835–1897), a Scottish owner of coffee houses
• Johnny Traill (1882–1958), an Irish-Argentine polo player
• Ken Traill (1926–2002), an English Rugby League football player
• Phil Traill (born 1973), a British television and film director
• Robert Traill (Irish clergyman) (1793-1847), a church leader who helped people during the Great Famine
• Robert Traill of Greyfriars (1603–1678), a Scottish minister
• Robert Traill (Scottish minister) (1642–1716), his son
• Roy Traill (Robert Henry Traill, 1892–1989), a New Zealand wildlife ranger
• Sinclair Traill (1905–1981), a British publisher and music critic
• Stewart Traill (1936–2018), an American religious leader
• Thomas Traill (1899–1973), a British World War I flying ace
• Thomas Stewart Traill (1781–1862), a Scottish doctor and scholar
• William Atcheson Traill (1844–1933), an Irish engineer
• William Henry Traill (1842–1902), an Australian journalist and politician
• William Traill (1838–1905), an English cricketer

See also

• Trail (disambiguation)
• Traill (disambiguation)