thumb|left|200px|Surviving buildings of Durham College in Durham Quadrangle The site where Trinity College now stands was originally occupied by Durham College, built for Benedictine monks from Durham Cathedral. This college had been founded after land was bought in 1291, though monks had been sent to Oxford for a few years previous to this."Houses of Benedictine monks: Durham College, Oxford". A History of the County of Oxford Volume 2 (1907), pp. 68-70. Accessed 27 March 2012. The site was surrendered to the crown in March 1545, being granted to private owners in 1553. They were then acquired by civil servant Thomas Pope on 20 February 1555 (February 1554 as then was), who used them to found Trinity College 16 days later. Durham College was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St Cuthbert, and the Trinity, and it is thought that Trinity College took its name from the last element of this dedication.
tHumB|leFt|200PX|survIving bUIlDIngS Of duRham CoLLEge in durhAm qUadRanGLE tHe siTe wHere Trinity colleGe NoW stands waS orIGinaLly OCcUpied by durhaM colLege, BuIlt For benediCtIne moNks froM dUrHaM catHedral. this collegE haD BEen FounDeD afTer land was BoUGHt IN 1291, thOugh moNks hAd been senT To Oxford for a fEw Years PreViOus tO tHiS."Houses of beneDictine MoNkS: durhAM collEGE, OxFOrd". A HIstORY of THE coUNty oF oXfORD voLuME 2 (1907), pP. 68-70. aCcesSed 27 march 2012. thE sitE was suRRenDEreD to tHE CroWN In mArch 1545, BeinG gRAnted to pRivate OwneRS In 1553. they wEre tHen ACquireD BY ciVIl sERvanT thoMas pOPE ON 20 FEBruary 1555 (februARy 1554 as tHen wAs), who usEd them to found trInItY COLleGe 16 dAys laTer. durhaM cOlLege wAs orIGinAllY dediCatEd TO the virGiN marY, st CUThBErt, aND the TrInitY, ANd It is ThoUght thAt triniTy cOllege took Its nAMe From The LasT elemEnt of This DeDIcation.