The Almond Family

The Origins of the Almond Surname

Nin's (my Grandma) original surname was Almond, this interesting and unusual surname is of Old French and Anglo-Saxon origin and has two possible sources.

Firstly, it may be from the English name for someone from Germany, derived from the Anglo-Norman French "aleman" or the German "alemayne". It could possibly be from Germany, from the Late Latin "Alemannus" and "Alemannia", from a Germanic tribal name, probably meaning simply "all the men". In some cases the reference may have been to the Norman region of Allemagne, to the south of Caen, which was probably so named from Germanic settlers there.

The second source is from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Athelmund", composed of the elements "athel", noble, and "mund", protection.

There is no evidence of any connection with the almond nut or tree. The name was first recorded as "Almund" and "Ailmundus" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was first recorded in the late 13th Century. William and Awdry (as written) Almond were some of the earliest settlers in the New World, leaving London on the "Abigall" in June 1635, bound for New England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Ailmun, which was dated 1279, in the "Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire". *

The Troth Surname

Another name on Nin's side that crops up is the unusual surname of Troth. The Troth 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.

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 II, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307-1327. *

Our line of Troth's start in Bromsgrove / Sidemoor. They all made nails for a living like most of the town. The profession of a nailor paid a pittance and life was a real struggle. They became known as the white slaves of England.