Traynor (surname) facts for kids

The name Traynor is a family name, also known as a surname, that comes from both English and Irish backgrounds. You can find people with the Traynor name all over the world!

It's most common in the United States, where over 5,000 people have this name. After that, you'll find many Traynors in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and Canada. In Northern Ireland, it's the 546th most common family name.

Where Did the Traynor Name Come From in England?

The Traynor name in England might have come from an old English word, "trayne." This word meant "to trap" or "to snare," so the name could have been given to a hunter.

Records from the 1200s show the name in places like County Durham and Yorkshire. Yorkshire was likely one of the first main areas for the English Traynor families. Some early examples include Robert Treiner in 1243 and Robertus Trainer in 1379.

Another idea is that the name might have been given to people who trained horses in medieval England. Today, the name is still quite common in Northern England, especially in Yorkshire and Durham. You'll also find many Traynors in North West England, including areas like Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, and Greater Manchester.

Where Did the Traynor Name Come From in Ireland?

The Irish surname Traynor might come from the Irish Gaelic words "Threin Fhir," which mean "strong man." This origin is mentioned in an old book of Irish history called the Annals of the Four Masters, written in the 1600s. This book suggests the name came from an ancient Irish group called the Colla Dá Crich.

An old count of people from 1659, called the Census of Ireland, listed "McTrenor" as one of the common Irish names in County Monaghan.

The name is common in Monaghan and throughout Ulster. Some old stories from Clogher, Tyrone, Northern Ireland, connect the name to Aedh Mac Cairthinn, who was an early leader in Clogher and was known as Saint Patrick's "strong man."

Some Traynor families in Ireland might also have Anglo-Irish roots. This means the name could have been brought to Ireland by English settlers who moved there a long time ago. Records from churches across Ireland show the Traynor name and its different spellings. Some Traynors were also part of important families in Ireland during certain historical periods.

Many Traynors in Ireland have family connections to settlers who came from England or Scotland, especially during a time known as the Plantation of Ulster. Some Scottish Traynors might even be connected to Clan Armstrong.

Different Ways to Spell Traynor

The Traynor name has a few common variations. These include:

• Trainor
• Trainer
• Treanor
• Trayner

People Named Traynor

Here are some notable people with the Traynor name or its variations:

Famous Traynors

• Arnold Traynor (1896–1976), an Australian rugby player.
• Bradley Traynor (born 1975), also known as Wanda Wisdom, a podcasting drag queen.
• Chris Traynor (born 1973), a guitarist from New York.
• Des Traynor (1931-1994), an Irish financier.
• Donna Traynor, a journalist and news anchor for BBC Newsline.
• Frank Traynor (1927–1985), an Australian jazz musician.
• Matt Traynor (born 1987), an American musician.
• Michael Traynor (actor) (born 1975), an American actor.
• Frank Traynor, an Irish boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Harold Joseph "Pie" Traynor (1899–1972), a professional baseball player.
• John "Jack" Traynor, a Royal Marine.
• John Jay Traynor (1943–2014), an American singer.
• James 'Jim' Sexton Traynor (born 1958), a Scottish sports journalist.
• John Traynor (criminal) (1948–2021), a person from Dublin.
• Kyle Traynor (born 1986), a Scottish rugby player.
• Michael Traynor (1917–1970), a member of Sinn Féin.
• Oscar Traynor (1886–1963), an Irish politician and revolutionary.
• Paul Traynor (born 1977), a Canadian ice hockey player.
• Philip Andrew Traynor (1874–1962), an American dentist and politician.
• Roger J. Traynor (1900–1983), a judge on the Supreme Court of California.
• Susan Traynor (born 1944), also known as Noosha Fox, a lead singer for the band Fox.
• Robert Terence 'Bobby' Traynor (born 1983), an English footballer.
• Stuart J. Traynor (1919–2008), an American lawyer and politician.
• Thomas Traynor (1881–1921), a member of the Irish Republican Army.
• Tommy Traynor (1933–2006), a Southampton footballer.
• William Bernard Traynor VC (1870–1956), an English soldier who received the Victoria Cross for bravery.
• W. J. H. Traynor (1845-?), a notable member of the Orange Order.

Famous Trainors

• Bernard E. Trainor (1928–2018), an American journalist and former marine officer.
• Bobby Trainor (1934–2020 or 2021), a Northern Irish former association footballer.
• Charles St. Clair Trainor (1901–1978), a Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician.
• Conor Trainor (born 1989), a Canadian rugby union player.
• Danny Trainor (1944–1974), a Northern Irish association footballer.
• David Owen Trainor, an American television director.
• Jerry Trainor (born 1977), an American actor, comedian, and musician.
• Jordan Trainor (born 1996), a New Zealand rugby union player.
• Kendall Trainor (born 1967), an American former football player.
• Kevin Trainor, an Irish actor.
• Larry Trainor (1905–1975), an American political activist.
• Luke Trainor (1900–1973), an Australian rules footballer.
• Martyn Trainor (born 1944), a South African former naval officer.
• Mary Ellen Trainor (1952–2015), an American actress.
• Meghan Trainor (born 1993), an American singer-songwriter and record producer.
• Mike Trainor (born 1981), an American stand-up comedian and writer.
• Nicholas Trainor (born 1975), an English former cricketer.
• Owen Trainor (1894–1956), a Canadian politician.
• Patrick F. Trainor (1863–1902), an American politician.
• Rick Trainor (born 1948), an American-British academic and historian.
• Wes Trainor (1921–1991), a Canadian ice hockey player.

Famous Trainers

• Bob Trainer (1927–1982), an Australian rules footballer.
• David Trainer, an American television director.
• Douglas Trainer, a former president of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom.
• Harry Trainer (1872–?), a Welsh international footballer.
• James Trainer (1863–1915), a Welsh association football player.
• Joe Trainer (born 1968), an American football coach and former player.
• John Trainer (born 1943), a former Australian politician.
• Marie Trainer (born 1940s), a former mayor in Canada.
• Melissa Trainer (born 1978), an American astrobiologist.
• Stephen Trainer, a Scottish professional association footballer.
• Ted Trainer, an Australian academic and author.
• Todd Trainer, a drummer for the band Shellac.

Famous Treanors

• Jack Treanor (1922–1993), an Australian cricketer.