The name Trait-
The experts tell us that the name Trait(e) comes from French, and is an abbreviation of ‘traiteur’, an occupational surname, meaning ‘caterer’.
Both forms, Traiteur and Trait/ Traite, as well as ‘Le Trait’ and ‘Du Trait’ are to be found in France today. Some Traits went to Spain in the 1700s and became ‘Traite’ pron. ‘try-teh’.
‘Trait’ was (and still is) pronounced [tret] in French. This soon became ‘trate’ in England, but it was written in many different ways, such as Trait, Trat, Trate, Tratte, Traite, Trayte, Treat, Treight, Traight, etc., all pronounced as ‘trate’.
Today there are still several variations in spelling, but the name is usually pronounced ‘trate’, although Treat is an exception. In Shakespeare’s time (early 1600s) ‘ea’ was pronounced ‘ay’ but the sound changed to ‘ee’ and ‘treat’ has followed the trend.
Also, there are several entries for ‘Van Treight’ in Ireland, (even Von Trait) but none in England. The name would seem to be Dutch or Flemish, but the spelling ‘Treight’ can only be English. ‘Van Triet’ (pron. ‘treet’) is found in Holland and South Africa, while Triett is noted in England from 1723 to 1826.
I believe these names come from the Dutch “ Van’T Riet ” which is an abbreviation of ‘Van Het Riet’ (‘of the reeds’). It seems to be a location name, i.e. ‘from the reed district’. (There is also ‘Rietsnijder’ or Reedcutter, an occupational name)
I believe that it is just a coincidence that both Trait and Van Treight were found in Kilkenny about the same time. Ours were Traits, and originated in France.
