Surname Trace - Meaning and Origin
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Trace: What does the surname Trace mean?
The surname Trace may have several possible origins. It could be derived from a geographical location, indicating a person who lived near a notable track or path, known as "trace" in Old French. The trace could refer to a hunting trail, trading route, or any path that was well-trodden and hence, recognizable.
Alternatively, it could be occupational, relating to someone who worked with 'traces', which were types of ropes or harnesses used in horse-drawn vehicles. Hence, a person dealing with such items might have been called 'Trace.'
The surname might also be of Irish origin, where it evolved from the Gaelic surname Ó Treasaigh, meaning "descendant of the war-like or fierce one."
It is also possible that the surname might have derived from the personal name Tracey, which originated from a place name in France, derived from the Gallo-Roman personal name Thracius coupled with the locational suffix "-acum", meaning a farmstead or settlement.
Surname meanings often evolved over centuries and might have had different origins in different regions or countries. It would require detailed genealogical research to trace the precise origin for an individual bearer of the surname Trace.
Order DNA origin analysisTrace: Where does the name Trace come from?
The last name Trace is common today in countries across Europe and the United States.
In Europe, current variations of the name can be found primarily in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, and Scandinavia. It can be found in various counties, including Lancashire, Herefordshire, Berkshire, Cumberland, Hampshire, and Durham. Currently, the last name is particularly common in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Cornwall.
In the United States, the last name is common in many states and appears in U.S. Census records from the 1800s. Certain states feature higher concentrations of the name Trace, for example, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. The states of California, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Massachusetts also have populations of people with the last name. Additionally, the name appears in records from states such as Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, and Georgia.
Variations of the last name Trace sometimes include Tracer and Tracey. At times it may be spelled as Tracer/Tracey, Trayce, Traace, and Trase. In some cases it may appear as Trais.
The last name is traditionally a topographic name that originated from Old English, meaning "a clearing in a wood".
Variations of the surname Trace
The surname Trace is found throughout many countries in Europe, Australia, and the United States. It comes from the Old English word "trás," meaning "track, path, or trace." Spellings of this surname include Trac, Traice, Trayce, Traye, Trays, and Trase, among others.
In some cases, the name Trace can also be an Anglicized form of several Irish surnames of different origins, including MacTreasa, which is derived from the Old Irish personal name "Tresse," meaning "industrious." In some Irish families, the English form of the surname Trace can also be an Anglicization of the native Gaelic-Irish MacPhilbin.
In Scotland, the surname Trace is a variant or Anglicized form of the native Gaelic surname MacAnTros, which is derived from the Old Gaelic personal name "AnTros," meaning "noble and head."
In France, it is a variant of the French surnames Tracé, Trassy, and Trayze, which all come from the same root word, “trás.”
In Germany, the name Trace may derive from a more numerous surname, such as Trasch or Traasch, which is of Germanic origin and derived from "treisk," an Old German word for "durable."
In Australia, the surname has been introduced by immigrants mainly from England, Ireland, and Scotland, but some people also bear the name as a result of intermarriage with Indigenous Australians.
In the United States, the surname is relatively rare, although the spelling of Trace is found in records since the early 1700s. There are also variant spellings, such as Trece and Trease.
Famous people with the name Trace
- Trace Adkins: Singer-songwriter and actor
- Trace Cyrus: Musician, vocalist and guitarist
- Trace Ayala: Fashion designer and entrepreneur
- Trace Gallagher: Television news correspondent
- Trace McSorley: American football quarterback
- Trace Johnson: American football defensive back
- Trace Berkowitz: Television network executive
- Trace Worden: American baseball player
- Tracee Ellis Ross: Actress, comedian, producer, singer, and television host
- Tracee Chimo: Actress
- Tracea Grimes: American football safety
- Trace Meek: Professional racing cyclist
- Tracee Imani: Actor and model
- Tracee Isaac: Actress
- Trace Armstrong: American football player
- Tracey Kennedy: Canadian politician
- Tracey Ullman: Actress, comedian, singer, dancer, screenwriter, and director
- Tracey Needham: Actress
- Tracey Gold: Actress
- Tracey Y. Ferland: American scholar and educator