Trowbridge
A habitational surname for someone from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, literally tied to the idea of a wooden bridge.
The #4,956 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 43,516 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Trowbridge is a place-name surname from Trowbridge in Wiltshire. Harrison explains the place-name as coming from Old English elements meaning "tree" and "bridge"—in other words, a wooden bridge. The name was also written in medieval forms such as Trowbmgge and Trowbrigge, showing the older bridge-based spelling tradition.
History
The surname appears in medieval records as a local name, for example in 14th-century Wiltshire and nearby counties. Like many English surnames, it began as a way of identifying someone by their home town and then became hereditary. The place itself was important enough that the surname remained stable even after the original wooden bridge was replaced by stone.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The modern town of Trowbridge still preserves the surname’s bridge image in its name, even though the original wooden bridge is long gone.
From the historical record
“leaved]. — Piers Plowman, 9798-9800. TROWBRIDGE (Eng.) Bel. to Trowbridge CWilts), 14th cent.Trowbmgge, Trowbrigge, 13th cent. Troubrigge = the Tree, i.e. Wood Bridge [O.E. treiw + brycg] The wooden bridge has long been re- placed by a stone structure. TROWELL 1 (Eng.) Bel. to Trowell (Notts : TROWL(E I 13th cent.…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)