Treffry

Treffry is an English family surname, originating from the county of Cornwall. The first record of the name Trefry was found in Cornwall where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor Treffry, some say, at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086.Fact|date=December 2007 The first on record was Roger Treffry about the year 1200 and 11th in descent from him in the main line was John Treffry, living in 1620.Fact|date=December 2007

Sir John Treffry of Fowey fought under the Black Prince at the Battle of Crécy, and captured the Royal Banner of France, for which he was awarded the honour of Knight Banneret on the battlefield, by the Black Prince and his Coat of Arms charged with the fleur-de-lis of France. In 1457 French marauders besieged the family seat, Place House, but met with the repulse at the hands of Dame Elizabeth Treffry, as she gathered men together and fortified Place and poored melted lead, stripped from the roof, upon the invaders. Later, Thomas Treffry built a tower to protect the mansion from the French attack. Earlier, other stems of the family branched to locations in Cornwall, and this ancient and noble house proceeded down to John Treffry of Place in 1658. A younger branch settled at Rooke, in the parish of St. Kew. Joseph Austin's mother was born Susanna Ann Treffry and married Joseph Austin and hence Joseph Thomas changed his name to Treffry when his father died - Joseph Thomas (Austin) Treffry. He became High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1838 and is known to have been one of the first mine owners to provide sick pay to his minors and medical attention to not only the minor but also his family. Their present family seat is still at Place.Fact|date=December 2007 David Treffry of Place was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1991.

Many spelling variations of the name Treffry are found in the archives. Although the name, Treffry occurred in many references, from time to time the surname was spelt Trefry, Treffrey, Treffray, Trefrey, Trefry, Trefray, Trefary, Trevry, Trevney, Trevray, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes and church officials spelt the name as they thought appropriate. It was not uncommon for a person to be born with one spelling, married with another, and yet another appeared on his headstone.Fact|date=December 2007

The most ancient known grant of a Coat of Arms to this family was:
*"Sable, a chevron between three silver trees".Fact|date=December 2007

The Crest was:
*A blackbird's head (actually a Chough - pronounced "chuff" - a crow-like bird with a red beak.) In the beak a sprig of laurel.Fact|date=December 2007

References

"The Treffry Family", Adelaide Rideout, 1984 Published by Philimore ISBN 0 85033 545 0

This does not preclude other branch Arms being appropriate to the name.