He was born in Glasgow on 19 April 1834, the son of Agnes (1796–1874) and Hugh Trayner (1798–1861).

[5] He shares the grave of his son-in-law, Edward Theodore Salvesen, in the new Lords Row against the north wall of the 20th century extension to the cemetery, backing onto Queensferry Road.

Their son Charles Hugh Maxwell Trayner (1867–1908) travelled widely and married Emmeline Tornquist of Guatemala and died in Spain.

Their son Robert (Bertie) Wyld Maxwell Trayner (1870–1958) married Adelaide Wilhelmina Roddy in San Francisco, and their daughter Frances Agnes Mary Camille Trayner (1878–1952) did not marry.

His portrait by George Reid RSA is held by the University of Dundee.