Category: Alsatian Tryons in America

Categories: Tryon Family in America, Tryon Name Study

This category began as a sub-category of Tryon Family in America after it was realized that not all persons with the surname or ancestral name Tryon descend from the William Tryon who emigrated from England to Connecticut in the 1650/60s.

A number of Tryons (also spelled Treon, Trion, Trine, etc.), particularly, but not exclusively, those families settled initially in Pennsylvania, originated in Alsace and other areas of eastern France and western Germany. They do not bear any documented relationships to the Tryons of England and New England, though it may be possible that there is a single origin for the family name somewhere in the region of the borderlands between what are now the Netherlands, Belgium (especially Wallonia), eastern regions of France or western regions of Germany.

Alsace is a rich agricultural area bounded by the Vosges mountains and the Rhein, and its people speak a dialect of German. Alsace was a French duchy from the 5th century, was united with German territories under the Carolingian kings in the 9th century and remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the 17th Century. Its more recent history has been defined more by religion than language: from the late 16th Century Protestantism gained a considerable foothold. The Wars of Religions resulted in Alsace appealing for French help. From 1648 France exercised an informal protectorate over Alsace, and full French control was established in the reign of Louis XIV in 1681, but Alsace continued to enjoy considerable autonomy until it was truly, fully incorporated into France in 1789. Citizens of Alsace continued to speak Alsatian, a German dialect, though the use of French spread among the upper classes.

It became part of Germany as a result of the Franco-Prussian War, and remained so until returned to France by the Treaty of Versailles in 1918, though German influence remained strong. It again became part of Germany from 1940 - 1945, but has been part of France ever since.

Most of the profiles within the category of Alsatian Tryons in America are the descendants of Johan Michael Christian "Christian" Trion, also spelled Tryon, who emigrated from France to Pennsylvania about 1752. Another significant group are the descendants of John Jacob Tryon who emigrated prior to 1760 when his son was born in Pennsylvania. A more recent family was that of Xavier V Treon (1801-1866).

A direct descendant of Xavier V Treon (1801-1866) has had Y-DNA analysis and there is no genetic link between them and the Tryons of England or of Flanders, other than they all are of NW European descent and are of haplogroup R1b.

This page was last modified 01:12, 17 February 2023. This page has been accessed 845 times.