This unusual and interesting surname has two origins; firstly, it may be of Old German origin, a diminutive of the occupational name for a grape-treader, deriving from an agent derivative of the Middle High German "trot(t)e" meaning winepress, a development of the Old High German "trot(t)a", from "trotton" to tread, trample. The suffix "s" denotes son of. Secondly, it may be of Anglo-Saxon origin, an occupational nickname for a fuller, deriving from the Middle English "tred(en)", to tread, from the Olde English pre 7th Century "tredan", plus "well" well, a development of the Olde English "wel(l)", plus the suffix "s". Church Records list the marriage of Thomas Trattles to Jane Gill on May 30th 1655 in Lythe, Yorkshire, and the christening of Wilhelmus, son of Thomas Tratles, on June 10th 1670 in Brandesburton, Yorkshire. Michael Trattles married Ellin Coats on September 19th 1684 at St. Katherine by the Tower, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Trattles, which was dated January 9th 1625, witness to the christening of his son John, at St. Martin's, Coney Street, Yorkshire, during the reign of King James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. 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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