Surname Larner - Meaning and Origin

Larner: What does the surname Larner mean?

The last name Larner is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "larnere," which means a teacher or scholar. The name is thought to have originated in the North of England, particularly Yorkshire, and those bearing the surname of Larner or Larnere trace their history back to the mid-1300s.

The main occupation of the early Larners was as experts in the law, and they provided advice and expertise to litigants in disputes. For their expertise, the Larners were dubbed ‘learners’ in the legal environment and so the name was eventually changed to "Larner." Other jobs associated with the last name Larnere includes farming, house-building, building trades, mending of nets, and fishing.

The name Larner or Larnere has also spread to other countries, including the Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, Scotland, Ireland and beyond. In some countries, variations of the name have developed, such as Lerner in Germany and Larson in Scandinavia.

Today, the Larner name is most commonly found in coastal and rural regions, such as Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Scotland, East Anglia, and the North East of England. The Larner coat-of-arms includes three silver stars on a blue background and was granted to Ralph Larner upon his summoning to the court of James I.

Larner: Where does the name Larner come from?

The last name Larner is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. A large percentage of Larner families live in the traditional counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. However, there are other regions in England, Scotland, and Wales with smaller concentrations of Larner families. The family name is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, with its earliest documented reference in 1219 found in Lincoln, England. In more recent times, many Larner families have spread further across UK soil, travelling to cities such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol, and Newcastle.

The surname can also be found in countries outside of the UK including the United States, Canada, and Australia, suggesting families emigrated further afield over time. Indeed, the overall population of Larner families more than doubled between the 1800s and 1900s. Today, thousands of members of the diaspora are scattered across the globe, their identities intertwined through the shared last name.

Variations of the surname Larner

The surname "Larner" is an English patronymic surname with multiple spelling variations, and may also have other variations, including Larnel, Larnell, Larnes, and Lauren. The surname Larner was originally derived from the Medieval name Lawrence, which is derived from the Latin name Laurence, meaning “of Laurentum” or “from Laurentum”. It was also adopted from the Old French ‘Lorans’ or ‘Loraus’, which was again derived from the Latin ‘Laurentius’.

The addition of the suffix ‘er’ to the name Lawrence created the patronymic surname Larner. This suffix is used to indicate “son of.” During the Middle Ages when most people did not have a fixed surname, the addition of a suffix such as ‘er’ served as a distinguishing characteristic.

In addition to the variations of “Larner,” there are other related surnames. These include Larned, Lerner, Lawrance, Lawrentz, Lawrence, Lernay, Lernes, Laurance, Laurie, Laurien, Laurier, Laurens, Laurenson, Laurenzano, Lavarnway, Loren, and Laur. The spelling variations between these names arose primarily due to the lack of standardized spelling in the Middle Ages.

Finally, Larner is a popular surname in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, England, France, and Germany. It is also commonly found among people who have ancestral connections to Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine.

Famous people with the name Larner

• Tyler Larner: Actor known for roles in “Supernatural” and “Bad Boys for Life”
• Steven LaRner: Actor known for roles in “The Great Gatsby” and “The Master of Disguise”
• John LaRner: Actor known for roles in “Argo” and “The Hangover”
• Jessica LaRner: Actress best known for “Grey’s Anatomy,” “General Hospital,” and “Days of our Lives”
• Brody LaRner: Professional athlete known for playing for the Los Angeles Clippers
• Sam LaRner: Musician and producer from Australia
• Rob LaRner: Award-winning singer-songwriter
• Eric LaRner: Folk singer and songwriter
• Barry LaRner: Emmy-nominated costume designer
• Tom LaRner: Business owner and philanthropist

Other surnames

LarnedLarney