Family flag,info,TREACY3,Tracy crest Ireland
tracey crest Tracey Family
An Irish Family History
 
   
     
Tracy crest Ireland
treacy galway
Treacy1
tracts.jpg

Great every fire in the house of Tracey, men of their word sitting upright (15th century Grammatical Tract)
Origins, history and genealogy of the Tracey/Tracy/Treacey/Treacy family name in Ireland.
The Irish name Tracey is derived from the native Irish O'Treasaigh Septs. The name is taken from the Irish word "treasach" meaning "war-like" or "fighter". It is also translated as "higher", "more powerful" or "superior". It may also be derived from the Irish word for three, with an association to the Tuatha Dé Danann. 
The first reference to the surname in the Irish Annals was in 1008AD, where it states, "Gussan, son of Ua Treassach, lord of Ui-Bairrche, died." 
Variations on the name
There were numerous variations of the name but in modern times usually only the following forms are found: Tracey, Tracy, Treacey and Treacy in English and Ó Treasaigh (masculine), Ní Threasaigh (feminine) in Irish. The English spelling of the name appears to be inter-changeable and different variations can be found within a family or even for an individual. When tracing ancestors all spelling of the name should be checked. For convenience the spelling Tracey is used on this website. The early standardised spelling is Tracy, which was adopted by the leading English family, although they also used other variations.  Threasy, Treasy, Tressy and Trassy were earlier variations, probably based on the pronouniation of the Gaelic name and regional dialects. Usually, the spelling Treacy is particular to Ireland. It appears to have been first adopted by Protestant families and became increasingly popular and the most numerous in the second part of the 19th century with the rise of nationalism. The following are the variations that have been found: 
Surnames: McGillentresse, McTreacey, McTressy, Otrassi, Otrassy, Otraye, Otreasly, Otreassi, Otreassy, Otressay, O'Tracy, O'Trasha, O'Trashy, O'Trassey, O'Trassy, O'Trasy, O'Treacy, O'Tressie, O'Tressy, O'Tresye, Thracey, Thracy, Thrasi, Threacy, Threshie/Thressie (Scotland), Threasy, Tracey, Traci, Tracie, Tracy, Tracye, Trasci, Trascy, Trasey, Trasie, Trassee, Trassey, Trassie, Trassy, Trassye, Trasy, Trayce, Traycey, Traycy, Trayse, Trayssi, Treacey, Treacy, Treacye, Treascy, Treasey, Treasy, Treassey, Treasie, Trecy, Tresay,  Tresey, Treffy (i.e. Tressy), Tresse, Tressee, Tressey, Tressi, Tressie, Tressy, Trissey, Trosse, Trossee, Trossey, Trycee, Ytreassy.
Gaelic spelling: Ó Treasaigh (masculine), Ní Threasaigh (feminine), Ua Treasaigh, Uí Threasaigh, Uí Treasaigh, Uí Treassaich.
Ancient spellings: Thresaigh, Thressaich, T[r]easaigh, Treasaighi, Treassach, Treasuigh, Tresach, Tresaich, Tresaig, Tresaigh, Tressach, Tressaich, Tressaig, Tressaigh, Tresuig, Tresuigh. Treasacháin (male). Treisi, Tresi (female).
Christian names: Treasach, Tressach (male) and Trása, Treasa, Tressa (female).
Place Names
There are also a number of place names that may be derived from the name:
In Antrim, there is the townland of Artresnahan (Ard Treasacháin) in the civil parish of Drummaul, Dundressan in Island Magee and Clonetrace in Skerry.
In Armagh, there is the townland of Ardress (Ard dreasa possibly Tracys height) in the civil parish of Loughgall.
In Carlow there is Traceys crossroads (E of Fighting Cocks on the Carlow-Ballon road). In the Inquisitions of Charles I, there is Vallintracny, probably in the parish of Kellistown.
In Cavan, there is the townland of Cordressogagh, Killinagh. See Monaghan.
In Clare, there is the townland of Gortatrassa (Killuran) and Treacy's Island (Rabbit Island) Scarriff Bay, Lough Derg.
In Cork, in the Fiants of Elizabeth I, there is a reference to Balliatrassie (Ballatrasnie, Ballyatrassnie), Ballytrasna, Kilmurry? Co. Cork, and in James I Gortdressagh Killacloyne Carrigtohill/Caherlag Cork city
In Derry, there is Listress (Cumber Upper).
In Donegal, there is the townland of Carntressy, 3 kilometers west of Pettigo, and possibly the townland Gortinessy, both in the civil parish of Templecarn and Clanrasse in Kilmacrenan.
In Down, there is the Trassey River and Valley in the Mourne Mountains. There is also Killydressy in the civil parish of Witter OR Ballyphilip, Ards Peninsula. Also Ballyclondresse the original name of Moydalgan in the civil parish of Dromara.
In Dublin, the hill of Garyston (Garristown, near Ashbourne Co. Meath) was also called the hill of Trasse (Trase) in the Book of Howth [Carnew Manuscripts] and mont de Holtrase in the Inquisitions of James I.
In Fermanagh, there was Killtrasse in Magheriboy Barony.
In Galway, there is Turloughtrassa Cross (Turlach Treasaigh), the cross of Turlogh Trassa,  a cross roads NW of Caherweelder townland in the civil parish of Killeely. 
There is Gortdrishagh [Gortdressagh] (civil parishes of Kilcummin, Abbeygormacan and Templetogher).
In Kildare, there are the townlands of Baltracey (north of Clane), Baltracey and Newtown Baltracey (SE of Naas) and Traceys crossroads (SE of Kildare town).
In Kilkenny, there is the townland of Kiltrassy (Killamery) and Carraig Treasa at Booleyglass (Aghaviller).
In Laois, there was Shamboe Tracy, [Shanboe Aghaboe?] meaing old house of Tracy, manor of Villars, Barony of Upper Ossory. Also Tracy’s Lane Ballycullenbeg [Mountmellick].
In Limerick, in the Fiants of Elizabeth I, there are references to Castlematrasse (Castlematrix, Castlematraske) and Courtmatrasca (Courtmatrix, Courtmatruske, Court Mutris, 
Courtvatraskie) Rathkeale, Co. Limerick and Cahirassie (Cahirassey, Carassie, Carrassie, Kahirassie) Caherass, Croom, Limerick.
In Louth, there was Ballrassie, Tresach or Tracy's Park, near Drogheda, perhaps Baltray.
In Mayo, there was the ancient 6th century place name of Fearsad Tresi (Treisi’s channel) located below the Abbey of Rafan, parish of Killala. There is also Trassey/Tressy Mountain [Cnoc Treasaigh] in Kilgellia, Ardrass [ArdrosseArdrasse], Corradrishy [Coirdressagh] in the civil parish of Attymass..
In Monaghan there is the civil parish of Ematris. which in earlier records is called Emetresse. A townland in this civil parish is Cordressigo [formerly called Corrigressagh and Iomadh-Treasa = many Traceys] Nearby, in Cavan bordering Fermanagh, there is the similarly named Cordressogagh in the civil parish of Killinagh.
In Sligo, there was Gortrassy and Sessueman Castle. [possibly Gortnadrass Achonry]
In Tipperary, there was Garranelandresy otherwise Lander's grove near Fethard.
In Tyrone, there is Killdress (Cill Dreasa).
In Waterford, there is Treacy's Hill in Kilmacthomas and Cnoc an Treasaigh in Kilmacomb.
In Westmeath, there is Aghyrassy (Newtown) and Ratrass (Killucan).
In Wexford, there is Villa Otrassi (in 1332) and the townlands of Ballytracey (Ferns) and Tracystown East and West (Taghmon).  There is a 1608 reference to Illanstrassock,
perhaps represented by the modern day townlands of Island, west of Gorey Town.
In Wicklow, there is the townland of Cooldross. (cúil a’ dreasa) in the civil parish of Newcastle-Lower which may be named after the Traceys.
Historical References
The following contain references to the Traceys:
1000 to 1625 AD O'Tracy Genealogy (Irish Genealogy Office Ms 159)
1145- Religious
1190- Medieval References
1585- Genealogical Abstracts
1593-1860 Students of Trinity College Dublin 
1600-1799 Wild Geese
1605 Irish Statue Stable Book
1607-1867 King's Inns Admission Papers
1636 Books of Survey and Distribution
1642 to 1850? Tracy Peerage Case
1659 Census
1708-1832 Registry of Deeds
1712- Society of Friends (Quaker) Congregational Records – 
1732 Convert Rolls
1733-1923 Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Membership
1737-1800 Belfast Newsletter
1749 Elphin Diocesan Census
1766 Religious Census
1771-1812 Walkers Hibernian Magazine
1780-1868 Ireland-Australia Transportation Database
1783-1802 Freeholders Northern Ireland
1787-1854 British War Office
1790-1924 Irish Prison Registers
1793-1993 St. Patrick's College Carlow
1795-1895 Students of Maynooth
1796 Irish Flax Growers
1798-1914 Register of Enlisted USA
Royal Navy
1810? Betham transcript of Linea Antiqua
1816-1922 Royal Irish Constabulary
1818- Chief Secretary’s Office Ireland
1821 Census Fragments
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1823 Tithe Applotment Books in Ireland
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1830s-1900s Teachers
1831 Tithe Defaulters
1836-1840 Outrage Reports Ireland
1841 1851 1861 1871 British Census
1841 1851 Census - 1908 Pensions Act
1846 Slater's national commercial directory of Ireland
1846-1851 New York arrivals
Alphabetical
Ship and date
Marriage Register in Ireland    
Alphabetical List 1845-1863 1864-1873 1874-1883 1884-1899  
1845-1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869  
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1848 William Smith O'Brien Petition 
1850 1885 Landed Estate Court Files
1850-1883 New York Emigrant Savings Bank Records  
1850 Griffiths Valuation in Ireland
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1855- British Civil Service Evidence Of Age
1858-1920 Calendars of Wills and Administrations
1858- Wills Northern Ireland
1859 Thom's Almanac and Official Directory of Ireland
1860- British War Office
1860s Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Fenian Movement
1860-1921 Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen
Birth Register in Ireland  
Alphabetical List 1864-1885   Alphabetical List 1886-1899  
1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869  
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
Death Register in Ireland
1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869  
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874  
1866-1914 Dog Licence Registers of Ireland
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1871 - 1926 School Registers
1876 Landowners
1882-1922 Land Records
1883-1948 Philadelphia Passenger List
1892-1924 Ellis Island arrivals
Alphabetical
Origins
British Postal Service Appointments
1901 Census of Ireland  
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1911 Census of Ireland  
- Alphabetical 
- by County
1912 Ulster Covenant
1913-1922 Military History
1914-1918 Ireland’s Memorial Records
1917 USA Draft Registration
1918-1941 Merchant Navy Seamen  
1921- Calendars of Wills and Administrations
1922 Army Census
1942 USA Draft Registration
Emigration    
An ongoing list of emigrants and ships.      
The earliest reference to emigration to America, was a transport list to Virginia North America:  
1653 Robert Tracy  
1653 Robert Tracye  
1654 Mary Tracy     
1654 Robert Trasey    
1655 Teague Trassey     
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdannear/firstfam/all/tracey1.htm  
http://www.rootsweb.com/~leeg/tracey/    
Early Families of Southern Maryland By Elise Greenup Jourdan 2007    
http://books.google.ie/books?id=u9JMSeAgLfcC&pg=PA23&dq=otracey&lr=#PPA22,M1    
Descendants      
http://www.rockystrickland.com/tracy.htm      
More Marylanders to Carolina: migration of Marylanders to North Carolina...      
Mathew J. Tracy (1915) Historical Sketches of the Tracy and Tanner Families.     
Harrison Scott Baker II (2004) History of the Tracy Family [Bazil/Bezaleel Tracy]    
       
Some notes on the following countries/areas:          
Argentina        
Australia        
Caribbean        
England - Liverpool        
Isle of Man        
New Zealand        
Scotland        
South Africa        
Wales        
Catholic Parish Registers
Irish Tracey Coat of Arms
DNA Genealogy
Please send your contributions, comments or suggestions to info@traceyclann.com
Last updated: 1st October 2024 What's new
Dedicated to Mel Tracey
Site Map - Table of Contents Facebook