This unusual and interesting surname can be either English or Irish. Recorded in a  wide variety of spellings including Trainer, Trener, Traynor, Trinor, Tronor, Trynor,  Triner and Trinner, it has at least two possible originations. The first is from the  pre 7th century Olde English 'trayne' meaning to trap or snare, and hence a name for  a hunter. Secondly if originating in Ireland, it may have the same origination from  English settlers, or it may derive from the pre 10th century Gaelic Mac Threinfhir,  meaning " the son of the champion". This name derives from the words "trean", meaning  strong, and "fhear", a man. Traditionally Irish family names are taken from the heads  of tribes, or from some illustrious warrior, as in this case, and were usually  prefixed either by O' meaning "descendant of", or "Mac", meaning "son of", and  sometimes both prefixes are used, although not at the sametime! This surname is also  recorded as MacCrainor and MacCreanor, but the usual spelling form is Traynor.

The family that we know of today comes from County Meath, Ireland nearby Dublin or so  the family oral history has mentioned. In a recorded message in 1978 our relatives  made mention of the family history and that the Traynors were from this area based on  what their relatives told them. Most of the Traynors found their homes to be in the  state of Kentucky in Lexington, Nicholasville, Athens and surrounding villages.

This tree also includes the Sweeney line which comes from the marriage of Martha  Ingalls Traynor to Paul Sweeney. The Sheehy, Ingalls and Walker lines are also  included in this tree which come from Harry Sheehy Traynor and Helen Mae Ingalls.