This interesting name is of topographical origin and is derived from these two elements; the Old Norse 'trani' meaning crane (as in the bird of that name) and the Old English pre 7th Century 'feld', open country, land free from wood. The name was given to someone who was 'a dweller in the open country where cranes abounded'. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The surname can be found as Tranfield, Trenfield, Transfield, Transfeld and Trannfeild. Among the sample recordings in London are the christening of Charles, son of Thomas and Jane Tranfield, on January 25th 1819 at St. Mary's, Marylebone, and the marriage of Thomas Tranfield and Hannah Abell on December 17th 1829 at St. Pancras, Old Church. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Issabella Transfeld (christening), which was dated April 15th 1542, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry V111, 'Good King Hal', 1509-1547. 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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