Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Trayoc(k), Traiok 1285,c.1285 For c.1305 ShefMD 1439 Portland

• Tray Cliff 1809 Tour 1846 Bagshaw

• Trayhok 1336 Bemrose

Etymology

Treak Cliff, Trayoc (k ), Traiok 1285, c. 1285For , c. 1305ShefMD , 1439Portland , Tray Cliff 1809 Tour, 1846 Bagshaw, from which William Trayhok 1336Bemrose was named. This is a difficult name; Professor Bruce Dickins suggests the first element is OE  trega 'affliction, pain, grief' (NED s.v. tray sb); the second element is clearly āc 'oak'. Hence perhaps 'oak on which criminals were hanged'.