Travis Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Travis/Travers Surname Name Meaning, Origin, History, & Etymology
The last name Travis is a primarily English name, of French origin, located heavily in Yorkshire and Lancashire, that developed as an occupational surname denoting a person who gathered tolls to grant travelers the right to across a bridge, road, or ford, derived from the Middle English word travis, meaning “crossing”. It is also a spelling variant of the English and French name Travers, meaning much the same thing, from the Old French word travers, meaning “passage” or traverser, meaning “to cross”. In northern Ireland, it a shortened Anglicized form of the Gaelic name O’Treabhair (related to the name Trevor). In some cases, it is also an Americanized spelling of the German surname Drewes. Some assert the name came from France to England during and after the Norman Invasion of 1066 AD. Others assert its Anglo-Saxon in origin.

It is asserted the family was seated at Mount Travers in Lancashire, England. The Manor of Skelmersdale in Lancashire was given to Robert Travis by Vivian Gernet, and it was held in 1212 AD by Henry Travers.

The following excerpt is from the Genealogical and Family History of South New York, Volume III, page 889, Lewis Historical Publishing Co. New York, 1913: “The surname Travis is supposed to be Norman French in origin, being derived by one etymologist from Brevieres, between Bayeaux and Caen in Normandy, France. There was a family of the name in that locality at an early date. After 1138 Ranulph de Clinchamp, whose residence was in the same territory, took the name of Travers. In the time of William the Conqueror, Robert de Travers, baron of Burgh-upon-Sands, became hereditary forester of Inglewood, England, an honorable and valuable position. In 1165 Ralph de Travers held the see of Worcester, in England. Hugh de Travers belonged to Lincoln and was a factor in some arrangements there in 1189-90. Roger de Travers lived in Bedfordshire in 1202. The family or a family bearing the name was also prominent in Yorkshire in the time of King Henry I. A Travers family dwelt in Lancaster in 1318. Members of the family were also prominent in Winchester in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries”.

Surname Spelling variants
Spelling or names with similar etymologies include Travers, Trevor, Traverse, Travies, Traviss, Travise, and Traveis.

Early Bearers of the Travis/Travers Surname
Walter Travers was listed in the register of the Gilbertine monastery in Lincoln, England in 1172 AD. Walter de Traverse was documented in Northumberland in 1219 AD. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD, a census of Wales and England, known in Latin as Rotuli Hundredorum lists two bearers of this surname: Hugh Travers (Lincolnshire) and Nigel Travers (Buckinghamshire). The Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379 AD also list one bearer: Robertus Trauers.

Travis Family Mottos
I have identified three family mottos for Travis and have translated them from Latin to English as follows:
1) Vulnera mihi vita (Wounds are life to me)
2) Nec temere nec timide (Neither rashly nor timidly)
3) Constantiâ et fidelitate (By constancy and fidelity)

Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Travis ranks 960^th popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following four states: Kentucky (451^st), Mississippi (459^th), Tennessee (521^st), and Michigan (549^th).

The surname Travis frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the British Isles: England (1,464^th), Scotland (3,899^th), Wales (2,916^th), Ireland (12,073^rd) and Northern Ireland (18,131^st). In England, it ranks highest in Manchester. In Scotland, the surname ranks highest in Aberdeenshire. In Ireland, it ranks highest in Connaught. In Wales, it ranks highest in Flintshire.

The name is also present throughout the remainder English speaking world: Canada (2,680^th), New Zealand (5,446^th), Australia (3,518^th), and South Africa (5,644^th).

Travis/Travers Family Tree & Travis Genealogy
The first known progenitor of this family is considered to be Arnold Travers who was born c. 1066 AD. He married Alison, daughter of Lord Marmaduke Tulketh, and had a son with her named Arnold. This son, Arnold Fitz Travers, was born in Tulketh, Preston, Lancashire, Essex, England c. 1125 AD. It is said he was a Knight, but also received Holy Orders and became a monk. His son, John Travers, or Johannes de Travers, was born c. 1162 AD in the same town. He was a member of King Henry II of England’s Council. His farm was called Aashton-upon Ribble. He had a son named Laurentius. This son, Laurentius Travers I, was born in Tulketh Castle, England c. 1190 AD. The following is a genealogical lineage beginning with his son:
1) Laurence Fitz Travers II (c. 1220-1287 AD, Preston, England, married Orme de Kellet, had sons Thomas, Roger, and Laurence III)
2) Thomas Travers (c. 1251-1334 AD, Nateby, England, Knight of the Shire for Lancashire)
3) Laurence Travers (c. 1290-1347 AD, Nateby and Tulketh)
4) Thomas Travers II (c. 1313-1363 AD, Nateby, Tulketh, Lancashire, England)
5) John Travers (c. 1349-1361 AD, Nateby and Tulketh, England)
6) Rodger Travers (c. 1354-1401 AD, Tulketh, Lancashire, England)
7) Thomas Travers III (c. 1443)
8) Laurence Travers VI (c. 1405-1442 AD)
9) Robert Travers (c. 1435 AD, Nateby England)
10) Richard Travers (c. 1475 AD, Lancashire, England
11) William Travers Sr. (c. 1490, Preston, Lancashire, England)
12) William Travers Jr. (c. 1511, Lancashire, England)
13) Richard Travers (c. 1542, Preston, Lancashire, England)
14) William Travers I (c. 1563, Nateby, Lancashire, England)
15) William Travis II (c. 1594, Nateby Hall, Middlesex, England)

The last mentioned ancestor, William II, had a son named with his wife, Rebecca Booth, named William Travers III who was born in Cork, Ireland c. 1624. He came to colonial America and lived in North Carolina. He married Sarah, daughter of Robert West, and had issue named Margery, Daniel, William IV, Sarah, Deborah, and Samuel. His son, Daniel Travis, was born in Munster, Ireland c. 1669 AD. He died in North Carolina. He married Susannah Delamare King and had issue with her as follows: Dr. Edward, Whitney, Daniel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jeremiah, and Anna. Dr. Edward Travis or Travers was born in Perquimans, Albermarle, North Carolina in 1691. He married twice: Ann (surname unknown) and Mary, daughter of John Mills. He is possible buried under the floor of St. Thomas Parish Church. He was the father of the following children: John D., Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, William, John, and Elizabeth. Four of his sons are discussed below:
1) John D. Travis I was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina in 1715. He married twice: Nancy D., daughter of John Copeland, and Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John Wilson. He was the father of the following children: Robert Sr., Mary, Martha, Thomas Sr., Francis, Daniel, Edward, Arthur, Berwick, Theophilius, Celia, Patsy, John D., Benjamin, James, and Charles. His son Berwick Barrett Travis was born in Travers Creek, North Carolina in 1748. He had numerous issue, including a son named Mark Butler Travis I who was born in South Carolina in 1783. He married Jemima Elizabeth Stallworth and had issue with her. One of his sons with Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, commander of the Alamo in Texas, born in Red Bank, South Carolina in 1809. He had two issue: Charles Edward and Susan Isabella.
2) Thomas Travis was born in North Carolina in 1719. He married Sarah Piland and had a son with her named John. His son John was born between 1724-1784, and had a son named Marlin.
3) William Mills Travis was born in Beaufort, North Carolina in 1728. He fought in the American Revolution. He married Abigail, daughter of William Denmark I and Moutning Mitton Moye, and had three sons with her as follows: Amos Sr., Simeon Ezekial, and Gideon.
4) John Travis was born in Beaufort City, North Carolina in 1726. He married Elizabeth de Loach, and had a son with her named John. His son John was born in North Carolina in 1726. He had a son named William. This son, William Barrett Travis, was born between 1731-1789. He married Ann Smallwood and had a son with her named Alexander who was born in Red Bank, North Carolina in 1790.

Another branch of the family traces back to William Travers who was born in England c. 1475 AD. He had a son named Richard who was born in Nottinghamshire, England c. 1495 AD. He had a son named Walter who was born in Nottinghamshire, England c. 1520 AD. He married a woman named Anne and had the following issue with her: Thomas, Walter, John, Humphrey, and Anne. His son, John Travers, was born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1549 AD. He married Alice Hooker and had the following issue: Samuel, Elias, John, Walter, Susan, Elizabeth, and Anne. His son, Samuel, was born in Nottinghamshire c. 1575 AD. He married Elizabeth Harrison and had issue as follows: Henry, Robert, Zachary, Thomas, Samuel, and Edward. His son, Henry Travers (or Travus, Traverse, Travis) was born in London, England c. 1610 AD. He went to colonial America, leaving Southampton aboard the Mary and John for New England in 1634. He married a woman named Bridget and had issue with her as follows: Sarah (Marsh), Elizabeth, and James. His son James was born in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1645. He married twice: Mercy Marsye Pearce and Jane Stainwood. He was the father of the following children: Mary, James III, Joseph, and Mary Mercy (Frink). His son, James Travis III, was born in Brookefield, Massachusetts in 1671. He married Mary Leland and had four issue: Joseph, James, John, and Mary. His three sons are discussed as follows:
1) Joseph Travis was born in Framingham, Massachusetts in 1700. He married twice: Sarah Dean and Mehitable Hagar. He was the father of: Sarah, Asa, Jeremiah, Susanna, and Daniel Sr.
2) James Travers was born in Framingham, MA in 1703. He married Rebecca Squire and had issue as follows: Mary, James, Daniel, and Thankful
3) John Travers was born in Sherborn, MA in 1710. He married Anna Maxwell and had issue with her as follows: Submit, Isaac, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Mercy, Sarah, Comfort, Molly, and Elisabeth.

Marriages
1) Henricus Travers married Anna Stockely in Cheshire, England in October 1640
2) William Travers married Alice Mollineux in October 1674
2) John Travers married Jane Goldsmith in Cheshire, England in June 1677
3) Edward Travis married Elie Birch in Cheshire, England in October 1672
5) Francis Travise married Jane Webs in Derbyshire, England in 1685
6) James Travis married Mary Owen in Lancashire, England in October 1682
7) Edmund Travis married Hannah Banerost in England in October 1671
8) Joshua Travis married Elizabeth Bretheron in Stockport, Cheshire, England in November 1679
9) John Travers married Elizabeth Tonge in Montford Shropshire in February 1730
10) Matthew Travers married Hannah Richardson in Ellesmere, Shropshire, England in 1745
11) Esther Travers married Joseph Waite in St. Mary, Cornwall, England in April 1708
12) Ann Travis married William Coats in Derby, England in March 1794

Early American and New World Settlers
Some of the earliest settlers in colonial America bearing this name include:
1) Henry Travis came to Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1634
2) Edward Travis came to Virginia in 1637
3) Walter Travis came to Virginia in 1637
4) Thomas Travis came to Virginia in 1663
5) Richard Travis came to Virginia in 1665
6) John Travis came to South Carolina between 1670-1699
7) William Travis came to Virginia in 1671
8) Daniel Travis came to Massachusetts in 1673
9) Daniel Travis came to Boston, MA in 1880
10) Peter Travis came to Maryland in 1682
11) William Travis came to Virginia in 1683
12) Charles Travis came to Richmond, Virginia between 1733-156
13) Joseph Travis came to Maryland or Virginia in 1738
14) James Travis came to Pensacola, Florida in 1781
15) John Travis came to New York in 1794
16) William Travis came to Pennsylvania in 1802

Several thousand members of the Travis family came to the United States through Ellis Island, during the nineteenth century, including:
1) John Travis came aboard the Cambridge in 1838
2) Kate Travis came from Ireland aboard the City of Brussels in 1880
3) Jane Travis came from Ireland aboard the England in 1871
4) Margaret Travis came from Ireland aboard the England in 1871
5) John Travis came from England aboard the City of Brussels in 1870
6) Stanley Travis came from Oldham aboard the Carpathia in 1903
7) John H. Travis came from Manchester, England aboard the Cedric in 1910
8) Mary Travis came from Donegal, Ireland aboard the Campania in 1910
9) Edwin Travis came from Litherland, England aboard the Majestic in 1907
10) Harold Travis came from Macclesfield, England aboard the Cedric in 1906
11) Joseph Travis came from Wolverhampton aboard the Saint Louis in 1905
12) Thomas Edmondson Travis came from Colne, England aboard the Baltic in 1913

Some of the earliest settlers in Canada bearing this name include:
1) Nathaniel Travis came to Nova Scotia in 1784
2) Jeremiah Travis came to Ontario in 1801
3) William Travis, age 10, came to Ontario in 1801
4) Mathew Travis, age 8, came to Ontario in 1801
5) Whitney Travis, age 6, came to Ontario in 1801
6) Joshua Travis, age 4, came to Ontario in 1801
7) Elizabeth Travis, age 4, came to Ontario in 1801
8) Daniel Travis, age 1, came to Ontario in 1801

Some of the earliest settlers in Australia bearing this name include:
1) James Travis came to Melbourne in 1857
2) John Travis came to Melbourne in 1854
3) Jane Travis, age 28, came to Victoria in 1853
4) Mary Travis, age 22, came to Victoria in 1853
5) Charlotte Travis, age 17, came to South Australia aboard the Taymouth Castle in 1854
6) Elizabeth Travis, age 23, came to South Australia aboard the Taymouth Castle in 1855
7) Stephen Travers, age 12, came to South Australia in 1853
8) Anne Travers, age 23, came to South Australia in 1849
9) Samuel Travers, age 33, came to South Australia in 1853

Some of the earliest settlers in New Zealand bearing this name include:
1) Jane Travers, age 28, came to Otago aboard the Kelso in 1849
2) John Travers, age 26, came to Otago aboard the Kelso in 1849
3) Henry Travers, age 6, came to Otago aboard the Kelso in 1849
4) William Travis, age 27, came aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1856
5) William Travis, age 3, came aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1856
6) Sarah Travis, age 26, came aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1856
7) Edward Travis, age 4, came aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1856
8) Elizabeth Travis, age 1, came aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1856

Notables
There are hundreds of notable people with the Travis/Travers surname. This page will mention a handful. Famous people with this last name include:
1) William Barret “Buck” Travis (1809-1836) was an American lawyer and soldier who was a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army who fought and died as the commander of the forces at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, born in Saluda County, North Carolina
2) Randy Bruce Travis (1959), whose real surname is Traywick, is an American country music and Christian singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Marshville, North Carolina
3) Cecil Howard Travis (1913-2006) was an American baseball player from Riverdale, Georgia who played for the Washington Senators from 1933-1941 and from 1945-1947
4) Mark Scott Travis (1961) who is an American rock musician from Norfolk, Virginia who has been the drummer both bands such as Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, and Razer X
5) Nancy Ann Travis is an American broadway, film, and TV actress from New York City, NY who is best known for her role in the ABC/Fox sitcom Last Man Standing, and also was in movies such as Fluke, Internal Affairs, and So I Married An Axe Murderer
6) Merle Robert Travis (1917-1983) who was an American country and western singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Rosewood, Kentucky best known for his songs that dealt with the economic struggles of coal miners and for his song Sixteen Tons
7) Michael Travis (1993) was a South African soccer (football) player from Pietermaritzburg who plated for four teams between 2011-2015 including Livingston and Arbroath
8) Debbie Travis (1960) who is a British-Canadian TV personality, former fashion model, and interior decorator best known for shows such as Debbie Travis’ Facelift and Debbie Travis’ Painted House
9) Richard Clay Travis (1979) who is an American sports journalist from Nashville, Tennessee
10) Eugene Mabbett Travis (1863-1940) served in the New York State Senate from 1907-1912 and was state comptroller from 1915-1920, born in Brooklyn

Travis/Travers America Civil War Veterans
There were several soldiers with the last name Travis who served in the American Civil War, including the following:
1) Burdick Travis of the 106^th Regiment Pennsylvania (Union)
2) Daniel F. Travis of the 2^nd Regiment Massachusetts (Union)
3) Israel Travis of the 11^th Regiment Missouri Infantry (Union)
4) George W. Travis of the 66^th Regiment Ohio Infantry (Union)
5) John C. Travis of the 11^th Regiment Kentucky Infantry (Union)
6) Zepharriah Travis of the 188^th Regiment New York Infantry (Union)
7) Bill D.P. Travis of the 22^nd Regiment Illinois Infantry (Union)
8) Joseph Travis of the 20^th Regiment Texas Infantry (Confederacy)
9) James G. Travis of the 64^th Regiment Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederacy)
10) Richard Nelson Travis of the 11^th Regiment Mississippi Infantry (Confederacy)
11) James Travis of the 22^nd Consolidated Regiment Louisiana Infantry (Confederacy)
12) Benjamin Travis of the 30^th Regiment Arkansas Infantry (Confederacy)
13) John Travis of the 1^ST Regiment South Carolina Artillery (Confederacy)
14) Sydney Travis of the 5^th Regiment North Carolina (Confederacy)

Travis/Travers America Revolution Veterans
There were several soldiers with the last name Travis who served in the Revolutionary War, including the following:
1) Sergeant Edward Travis of Virginia
2) Private of Sylvanus Travis of New York
3) Corporal Ezechial Travis of New York
4) Private Jacob Travis of New York
5) Corporal Joseph Travis
6) Joshua Travis of New York
7) Robert Travis of New York
8) Private Scott Travis of New York
9) Titus Travis of New York
10) Corporal Uriah Travis of New York
11) William Travis of New York
12) Gabriel Travis of New York
13) Private Edward Travis of Virginia
14) Abraham Travis of New York

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (co. Devon). Ar. three bends sa. Crest—A griffin’s head erased or, holding in the mouth an eft or lizard az.
2) (Mount Travers, co. Lancaster). Ar. a fess vert betw. three torteaux.
3) (Netby, co. York). Sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops, and in base a boar’s head of the second.
4) (co. York;. Ar. three bears pass, in pale sa.
5) (Ireland; arms confirmed and crest granted by Roberts, Ulster, 1647, to Serjeant-Major John Travebs, son of Henry Travers, who was great-grandson of Hamlet Travers, of Horton, co. Chester, descended from Travers, of Mount Travers, co. Lancaster). Sa. an escutcheon ar. a border of the last. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, an armed arm gu. holding a sword ppr. Motto—Vulnesa mihi vita.
6) (Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1656). Ar. in chief an escallop and in base two trefoils slipped all sa.
7) (Monkstown Castle, co. Dublin; Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1610, Mary, dau. and co-heir of Sir Henry Travers, Master of the Ordnance, and wife, first, of James, third Viscount Baltinglass, secondly, of Sir Gerald Aylmer, first bart. of Donadea). Ar. on a chev. gu. three griffins’ heads erased or, on a chief az. three bezants. Crest—A griffin’s head erased or, holding in the beak a lizard vert.
8) (Clarke-Travers, Bart., Rossniore, co. Cork). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head of the second, for Travers; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend cotised gu. an Eastern crown or, betw. two swans ppr. a border vert, for Clarke. Crests— 1st, Travers: An heraldic tiger pass, ar.; 2nd, Clarke: Out of an Eastern crown gu. a wyvern, wings elevated or. Mottoes—Nec temere nec timide; and, Constantiâ et fidelitate.
9) Ar. a saltire betw. four scorpions sa. Crest—A rock in the sea ppr.
10) Ar. a chev. gu. on a chief of the second three plates.
11) Az. three bears pass. ar.
12) (co. Cork; reg. by Molyneux, Ulster). Sa. a chev. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head couped ar. Crest—An heraldic tiger statant gu.
13) (Clarke-Travers, Rossmore, co. Cork, bart., page 1025). The following is the correct blazon of the baronet’s Arms, &c.—Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head erased of the second, for Travers; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend gu. cottised az. betw. three pellets an antique crown or, betwixt two swans close of the first, for Clarke. Crests—1st, Travers: An heraldic tiger pass. ar.; 2nd, Clarke: On the stump of a tree couped, eradicated, and sprouting on each side, a lark perched ppr. wings expanded, holding in the beak two wheal ears or. Mottoes—Nec temere nec timide; and Constants et fidelitate.
14) (co. Devon). Ar. three bends sa. Crest—A griffin’s head erased or, holding in the mouth an eft or lizard az.
15) (Mount Travers, co. Lancaster). Ar. a fess vert betw. three torteaux.
16) (Netby, co. York). Sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops, and in base a boar’s head of the second.
17) (co. York;. Ar. three bears pass, in pale sa.
18) (Ireland; arms confirmed and crest granted by Roberts, Ulster, 1647, to Serjeant-Major John Travebs, son of Henry Travers, who was great-grandson of Hamlet Travers, of Horton, co. Chester, descended from Travers, of Mount Travers, co. Lancaster). Sa. an escutcheon ar. a border of the last. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, an armed arm gu. holding a sword ppr. Motto—Vulnesa mihi vita.
19) (Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1656). Ar. in chief an escallop and in base two trefoils slipped all sa.
20) (Monkstown Castle, co. Dublin; Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1610, Mary, dau. and co-heir of Sir Henry Travers, Master of the Ordnance, and wife, first, of James, third Viscount Baltinglass, secondly, of Sir Gerald Aylmer, first bart. of Donadea). Ar. on a chev. gu. three griffins’ heads erased or, on a chief az. three bezants. Crest—A griffin’s head erased or, holding in the beak a lizard vert.
21) (Clarke-Travers, Bart., Rossniore, co. Cork). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head of the second, for Travers; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend cotised gu. an Eastern crown or, betw. two swans ppr. a border vert, for Clarke. Crests— 1st, Travers: An heraldic tiger pass, ar.; 2nd, Clarke: Out of an Eastern crown gu. a wyvern, wings elevated or. Mottoes—Nec temere nec timide; and, Constantiâ et fidelitate.
22) Ar. a saltire betw. four scorpions sa. Crest—A rock in the sea ppr.
23) Ar. a chev. gu. on a chief of the second three plates.
24) Az. three bears pass. ar.
25) (co. Cork; reg. by Molyneux, Ulster). Sa. a chev. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head couped ar. Crest—An heraldic tiger statant gu.
26) (Clarke-Travers, Rossmore, co. Cork, bart., page 1025). The following is the correct blazon of the baronet’s Arms, &c.—Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. a chev. ar. betw. in chief two escallops and in base a boar’s head erased of the second, for Travers; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend gu. cottised az. betw. three pellets an antique crown or, betwixt two swans close of the first, for Clarke. Crests—1st, Travers: An heraldic tiger pass. ar.; 2nd, Clarke: On the stump of a tree couped, eradicated, and sprouting on each side, a lark perched ppr. wings expanded, holding in the beak two wheal ears or. Mottoes—Nec temere nec timide; and Constants et fidelitate.
27) (London; Richard Traves, Merchant Tailor, temp. Henry VIII.; his dau. Мargaret m. Sir Thomas Blanck, Mayor of London. Visit. London, 1563). Ar. a saltire betw. four butterflies volant sa.