The phrase Tre, Pol and Pen is used to describe people from or places in Cornwall, UK. The full rhyming couplet runs: By Tre Pol and Pen / Shall ye know all Cornishmen, ^{[1] [2]} a version of which was recorded by Richard Carew in his Survey of Cornwall, published in 1602. ^[3] Many Cornish surnames and place names still retain these words as prefixes, such as the surname Trelawny and the village Polzeath. Tre in the Cornish language means a settlement or homestead; Pol, a pond, lake or well; and Pen (also Welsh and Cumbric), a hill or headland. Cornish surnames and placenames are generally pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable. ^[4]

Examples in Cornish surnames

Tre

• Squire Trelawney, character in Treasure Island
• Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Baronet
• Petroc Trelawny
• Arthur Tremayne
• Henry Trengrouse
• John Trevaskis
• Marcus Trescothick
• Sir Charles Trevelyan, 1st Baronet
• Richard Trevithick
• Richard Trevithick Tangye

Pol

• Ross Poldark, fictional character in series of the same name
• James Polkinghorne
• Richard Polwhele

Pen

• Edward William Wynne Pendarves
• David Penhaligon
• Charles Penrose
• Guy Penrose Gibson
• Dolly Pentreath
• Sir Humphrey Pengallan, character in Jamaica Inn

Examples in Cornish place names

Tre

• Trethevy
• Trematon
• Tregony

Pol

• Polzeath
• Polperro

Pen

• Penzance
• Penryn
• Penponds

See also

• Cornish surnames
• Cornish language

References