This unusual and interesting name is of Old pre 10th century French and Medieval English origins. It is an occupational surname for a maker of 'trussels', which broadly describes a die stamp, such as may be used for making coins, medals, or later the letters used in early printing. The word was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, and is derived from the Old French verb "trousser or trusser", which literally means to truss or bind, but in this case was used in a transferred sense. The name was always quite rare, which makes one wonder why 'Smith' is so popular, nethertheless it has been recorded in England from the very earliest days of hereditary surname formation. Examples of the early recordings include Godfrey Trusel in the 1204 Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, and Richard Trussell in the 1221 Assize Rolls of Warwickshire.Recordings of the surname taken from various church registers include the marriage of Henry Trussle and Alice Leliet at Aldingbourne, Sussex, on June 22nd 1559, and the marriage of Anne Trussell and Henry Perkins, on August 2nd 1688, at St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, London. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name depicts a shield of ermines, fretty gold, on a black chief three gold lions rampant. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Trussel, which was dated 1195, in the pipe rolls of the county of Leicester, during the reign of King Richard 1, known as 'The Lionheart', 1189 - 1199. 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.

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