Map of England showing where the Trusso arms are recorded
The Trusso arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1342.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in England when the Trusso arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Trusso Family in England
The family name Trusso has roots that trace back to the medieval period in England, with historical documentation placing members of the family in Cambridge as early as 1342. During the fourteenth century, surnames were often adopted to describe a person’s occupation, physical traits, or their place of origin. The name Trusso likely evolved from Old French or Middle English terms related to the word truss, which referred to a bundle of goods or a piece of luggage. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name may have been merchants, traders, or packmen who transported goods across the bustling market towns of East Anglia. By establishing themselves in a significant academic and commercial hub like Cambridge, the early Trusso family became part of the growing class of townspeople who helped shape the local economy and social structure of the region during the late Middle Ages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Truss
A bundle or a package tied together.
This name
TrussoAn occupational name for a porter or someone who carried bundled goods.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Court of Common Pleas: Plea Rolls, CP 40/331
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
swordJustice, and military honour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
swordJustice, and military honour
