Surname Traynor - Meaning and Origin

Traynor: What does the surname Traynor mean?

Traynor is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Thréinfhir" which literally means "son of the strong man". The name may have originally been bestowed as a nickname to an extraordinarily strong individual, which then evolved into a surname passed down through generations. It is implied to be associated with qualities such as power, strength, and robustness. The name Traynor has many alternative spellings, including MacTraynor, MacTrevor, MacTreinfhear, and others. The latter part of the surname, "anor" or "enor" is derived from the Gaelic word "fear" meaning "man". Ireland is the predominant homeland of the Traynors, while you can also find some in England, Scotland, and the United States. It's noteworthy that variations of this surname have been carried by several notable people, including musicians, athletes, and actors.

Traynor: Where does the name Traynor come from?

The surname Traynor is of Irish origin derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Threinfir" which means "strong man." It is a reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thréinfhir, an Ulster surname, which Woulfe associates with the Scottish surname ‘Moncrieff’. The name became Troynor in English and later evolved into Traynor.

The name originated in an area that is located in County Armagh and in the Fews, which is a range of hills located in the South of County Louth. In medieval times, it was common practice for this Gaelic surname to be Anglicized when written in English and translated to the Norman-French equivalent which is "Fortescue".

Today, the name Traynor is common amongst people of Irish descent and typically found in the northeastern United States, Canada, Australia, and in the countries of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Variations of the surname Traynor

The surname Traynor is an Irish surname that is derived from the Gaelic term "Traonach," which means "boisterous" or "riotous." It has numerous variations and alternative spellings that have come into existence over the centuries. These include Treanor, Trainor, Trayner, Trainer, Trane, Trayer, Trayeres, Trenor, Treynor, and Tranor.

The surname Treanor is more prevalent in Monaghan while Traynor is commonly found in Louth. Some surnames such as Trane or Trayer might have been influenced by phonetic spellings or regional accents. Sometimes, the name may be spelled "O'Traynor" or "O'Treanor," since it was common Irish practice to add an "O" before surnames, denoting "son of."

Family names can also be transformed when immigrants enter a new country, so these variations may have evolved when members of the Traynor family moved to English-speaking countries. With such adaptations, the spelling or pronunciation might have been altered to accommodate the phonetic system of the new language, and as a result, unique variations of the original surname might have emerged. It's also possible that clerical errors done by immigration officers led to the creation of further surname variants.

Famous people with the name Traynor

• Mary Katharine Ham: An American journalist who was previously married to Jake Brewer, whose real surname was Traynor.
• John Traynor: A famous Irish gangster.
• Jimmy Traynor: Renowned Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League.
• Terry Traynor: Retired Australian rules footballer who also played in the Victorian Football League.
• Robert Traynor: A British footballer who had a long career with Bury FC and played as a half-back.
• Tommy Traynor: An Irish footballer who spent most of his career with Shamrock Rovers and represented Ireland internationally.
• Edward Traynor: An artist hailing from Northern Ireland, known for his works featuring Irish landscapes.
• Kathryn Traynor: A professional golfer from Northern Ireland, who has participated in Ladies European Tour-Qualifying School.
• David Traynor: Renowned medium from the UK.
• Jessica Traynor: A contemporary Irish poet, and former Literary Manager of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland.
• Sharon Traynor: British actress known for her roles in "Coronation Street" and "Phoenix Nights".
• Peter Traynor: A Canadian ice hockey player who played for the National Hockey League in the 1970s.
• Bella Traynor: An American actress best known for the TV series “General Hospital”.

Other surnames

Trayner