Recorded as Tremlett, Tremlet and the rare Tremblett, this interesting surname is English but of Norman-French origins. It is locational from a place called "Les Trois Minettes" in Calvados, France, apparently because there were once three mines in the village. Tremlett is the name of an old established Devon family, who held lands in the county since the early 12th Century. Amongest the earliest recordings of the surname is Walter de Tribus Minetis recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in 1130, whilst Joslen Trismnettes is also recorded in the Devonshire Pipe Rolls, but in 1194. The register known as the Pleas before the king or his justices (1198-1212), record a Richard de Treminettes in 1204, in Staffordshire, whilst WilliamTremlett was christened at Drewsteign, Devon on May 13th 1557, Barnard Tremlet was christened at Cheriton Bishop, in Devon on July 15th 1572, and John Tremblette married Elizabeth Aprice at St. Sidwells, Exeter, Devon on April 18th 1575. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Olivarus de Tremblet. This was dated 1094, when he was a witness to a charter by Earl Roger de Poitou, during the reign of King William 11nd of England, 1087 - 1100. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.