Troth

This interesting and unusual name is of early medieval English origin, and is one of that sizeable group of early English and European surnames that were gradually acquired by the habitual use of a nickname, and also, as in this instance, by the constant use of a particular phrase or oath by the person so named. The modern surname Troth or Troath derives from the Middle English "trowthe, trouthe", good faith, loyalty, from the Olde English pre 7th Century "treowth", truth, a derivative of "treow", true. As a nickname surname it would have been bestowed on someone considered to be outstandingly loyal and faithful, possibly a servant or retainer. "Troth" may also be an "oath-surname", acquired by the habitual use of the common phrase "By my troth" to emphasise the truthfulness of an assertion. Other such names surviving are "Godbehere" and "Godsave" (for God's sake). The marriage of William Troth and Katherine Meriday was recorded at the Church of St. Dunstan, Stepney, in London, on August 3rd 1629. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Troth which was dated 1327, in the "Suffolk Subsidy Rolls", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307-1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.