Tre, Pol and Pen

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

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### Tre

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* 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

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

### Pen

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* 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

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### Tre

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* Trethevy
* Trematon
* Tregony

### Pol

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* Polzeath
* Polperro
* Polgooth

### Pen

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* Penzance
* Penryn
* Penponds

## See also

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* Cornwall portal

* Cornish surnames
* Cornish language

## References

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1. ^ Tre, Pol and Pen - The Cornish Family by Bernard Deacon
2. ^ Cornish surnames - By Tre, Pol and Pen shall ye know all Cornishmen
3. ^ Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall (Page 48)
4. ^ Words & Phrases, West Penwith

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Cornish language

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* John Davey
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* Brittonic languages
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