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Nickname: Turn-bull. Two great clan nicknames grew up in Liddesdale and the 'Debateable Land,' the Armstrings and Turnbulls, both significant of that prowess, which was so necesssary in the times of Scotch and English raids across the border. To turn the bull at the baiting would be an exploit worthy a sobriquet in those rude times, and the possessor would be proud to bear it. Trumble is a corruption of Turnbull, not Turnbull of Trumble. The earliest form is Turnebull.
The first of this family is said to have been a strong man named Ruel, who turned a wild bull by the head, which had violently ran against Robert Bruce in Stirling Park; for which act he received from that king the lands of Bedrule, and the name of Turnbull. He is called in the charter " Willielmo dicto Turn- bull." At the battle of Halidonhill, this Ruel advanced before the Scotch army with a great dog, and challenged any of the English to fight with him a combat. Sir Robert Venal, a Norfolk man, fought and killed him and his dog too. The descendants of Ruel bore a bull's head in their arms (modernly three bull's heads), in allusion to the feat from which their name originated.
This name had its origin in some feat of personal strength or courage. There is the following tradition of its origin: A strong man of the name of 'Ruel,' having turned a wild bull by the head, which violently ran against King Robert Bruce in Stirling Park, received from the king the lands of Bedrule, and the name of Turnbull.
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