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From Cornish heraldry

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, a version of which was recorded by Richard Carew in his Survey of Cornwall, published in 1602. 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.

Duke of Cornwall
For further reading; Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales

Cornish Symbolism
There are several charges and tinctures (colourings) used frequently in Cornish heraldry. These are derived mainly from Cornish royal and national symbolism.

Common charges

 * Chough: the Cornish Chough, Cornwall's national bird, is very widely used in Cornish heraldry.
 * Double-headed eagle: eagles with two heads occur prominently in several Cornish arms, in contrast to the rest of Britain where they are rare. The popularity of this form of eagle is probably due to Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who bore such an eagle in his role as King of the Romans.
 * Bezants: Lower describes how Cornish families took the bezant from the arms of the ancient earls of Cornwall, "this coat is pretended to from Cadock or Cradock earl of Cornwall in the fifth century". The bezant in fact derives from the arms of Richard, Earl of Cornwall.
 * Rose: the rose is an extremely common charge in Cornish heraldry, thought by Lower to originate in the Wars of the Roses. William Smith Ellis thought it might have been derived from an unknown Anglo-Norman family in Cornwall using it as an emblem and passing it on to their supporters. It is more likely, however, to derive from the Cornish placename element ros meaning a promontory or heathland, or res, a ford, Cornish gentry often using the name of their major estate as a surname. It is used by the family of Boscawen originally from Boscawen Rose.

Mottoes
Many Cornish families from ancient times bore mottoes in the Cornish language, many of which were recorded in the 17th century. The practice of using Cornish language mottoes continues to this day. Examples include:

Familial examples

 * Vaughan - Asgre lan dyogel ey pherchen (A good conscience is the best shield)
 * Carminow - Cala rag whethlow (A straw for the talebearer)
 * Glynn - Dre weres agan Dew ny (By the help of our God)
 * Truscott and Gay - Gwir yn erbyn y byd (the truth against the world)
 * Polwhele - Karenza wheelas Karenza (Love seeks out love)
 * Tonkin - Kensol tra Tonkyn, ouna Dew mathern yn (Before all things Tonkin, fear God in the King)
 * Williams - Meor vas tha dew (Gracious is thy God)
 * Polkinghorne - Rag Matern a pow (For King and Country)
 * Bolitho - Re deu (By God)
 * Ruddle - Ruthek ha yagh (Ruddy and hearty)
 * Tremenheere - Thrugscryssough ne Deu a nef (Do not disbelieve in God of Heaven)
 * Tonkin - Yn ton kyn nyjyaf (In a wave I swim)
 * Godolphin - Frank ha leal ettoga (Free and Loyal Forever) and Franc ha leal atho ve (Free and Loyal Am I)
 * Boscawen -Bosco, Pasco, Karenza Venza (canting arms of unknown meaning, however Karensa a vynsa, covaytys ny vynsa (Love would, greed wouldn't) is a Cornish saying)
 * Harris of Keneggy - Car Deu reyz pub tra (Love God above all)
 * Noye of St Buryan - Teg yw hedhwch (Fair is peace)
 * Gwavas - En Hav perkou Gwav (In summer remember winter)
 * Sloggett of Tresloggett - Bethoh Dur (Be Bold)
 * Harvey - Arva hep arveth (To arm without aggression)
 * Tangye - Tangy an dorgallow
 * Trenear-Harvey - "Harth mes Len" (Boldly but sincerely)

Corporate examples

 * Cornish Guild of Heralds - Tyr ha Tylu (Land and Family)
 * Cornwall Council - Onen hag Oll (One and All)
 * Old Cornwall societies - Myghtern Arthur nyns yu marrow (King Arthur is not dead)
 * Federation of Old Cornwall Societies - Kyntelleugh an brewyon es gesys na vo kellys travyth (Gather ye the fragments that are left, that nothing be lost)
 * Gorseth Kernow - An gwyr erbyn an bys (The truth against the world)