w w w . t r e g e n z a . o r g

This information on this page is graciously provided by Paul Tregenza from his book The Genealogy of Tregenza Family. The work represents the authoritative study of Tregenza genealogy and we thank him for allowing the results of many years of research to be made available here. Copyright of the following text remains with Paul Tregenza.

Meaning of the family name

T F G Dexter in his book Cornish Names 1926 gives the most likely explanation of the meaning of the name.  He suggests that it derives from Tre gensa meaning the first, front, foremost or prime farmstead.   The adjective 'kensa' is an irregular form for first (in the same way that in English 'first' is irregular and not derived from 'one').   The change of 'k' (or hard 'c') to 'g' is an example of the typical and common mutation of consonants used in celtic languages to make speaking smoother.

The farmstead Tregenza was on top of a gentle rise above the parish church; overlooking it, the valley and old Tregonjohn farm-stead.  Also the Tregenza farm was listed first on many documents sometimes with Tregonjohn.   Both could have given rise to the name meaning foremost or first.

Richard Blewett gave meanings for family names in a series of newspaper articles in the West Briton.   "I have not found a place name and I have searched in vain for a clue to its meaning in any modern works on the Cornish language ..... I am offering his [Charnock's] interpretation of the surname Tregenza with some doubt from TREG-'N-SAIR = the dwelling of the woodman or carpenter." 7 January 1960

The full Cornish elements could be TREF (dwelling or farmstead), AN (of the), PREN (wood or timber) and SER (pronounced SAIR = artificier).  It is not sure that Charnock considered that the word PREN was there or just assumed.   If it was there originally it would be expected to follow the noun SER not precede it.  AN commonly reduces to 'N and TREF to TRE. However there appears to be no reason for the appearance of the G !

The earliest documented spellings of place-names are usually the best guide to their meaning but in this case the name Tregenza appeared more or less with the same spelling.

The meaning of Tregensith

An investigation of the original name (alias) could be illuminating but unfortunately there are no expert interpretations of this place-name.  A search through the Cornish-English dictionary gives only one suitable word, 'whensys' which mutates in combination to 'gensys'.  It is the past participle of the verb 'whansa' meaning to covet or desire.   Thus the place-name would mean 'desired-farmstead'.  It is interesting but probably a coincidence that this guesswork gives a meaning so close to that of Tregenza (first or foremost farmstead).