Contents [hide]

Garner History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Garner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Etymology of Garner

What does the name Garner mean?

The Garner surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from the baptismal name Garnier. 1 Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Old French word "gerner," or "gernier" which means a "storehouse for corn" or "keeper of the granary." 2 3

However, we should point out to the reader that Bardsley disagrees with this latter in his reference: "It has nothing to do with a granary, as suggested by Lower." He claims that the name could have also been originally an occupational name as in "the gardener," which was corrupted to Gardner and later Garner. 1

Early Origins of the Garner family

The surname Garner was first found in Rutland where the first record was found in the original Latin form, Garnerius de Nugent who was listed there 1170-1183. Later Geoffre Gerner was listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1272 and Willam del Gerner was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. 2

Warner or Garnier (fl. 1106), was an early writer of homilies and a monk of Westminster. He was present at the translation of the relics of St. Withburga, 1106. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has only one listing of the family, Stephen Gemer who was listed as being in Lincolnshire at that time. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Johannes Garner. The Lancashire Wills at Richmond list: Christopher Gardiner, or Garner in 1584; John Gardiner, or Garner, of Aldingham in the same year; and Christopher Garner, of Much Urswicke in 1575. 1

Early History of the Garner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garner research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1280, 1592, 1624, 1645, 1646, 1674, 1690, 1754, 1769, 1789, 1839, 1868 and 1906 are included under the topic Early Garner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garner Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Garner are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Garner include: Garner, Garnier, Gerner and others.

Early Notables of the Garner family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Adrian Garner, British sheriff who held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1645 to 1646. Thomas Gardner (c. 1592-1674) was an Overseer of the "old planters" party of the Dorches...
Thomas Gardner (1690-1769) was an English antiquary from Ombersley, Worcestershire who was particularly interested in Dunwich in Suffolk, a town mostly lost to coastal erosion, and published a history...
Thomas Garner (1839-1906) was one of the leading English Gothic revival architects of the Victorian era. He is known for his almost 30-year partnership with architect George Frederick Bodley

Garner World Ranking

In the United States, the name Garner is the 350^th most popular surname with an estimated 77,097 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Garner is ranked the 811^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,839 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Garner is the 447^th popular surname with an estimated 14,542 people with that name. 7

Garner migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Garner or a variant listed above:

Garner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jon Garner, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 8
Alex. Garner, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
Alex Garner, who landed in Virginia in 1635 8
Edmund Garner, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635 8
Edward Garner, who landed in Virginia in 1636 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ellinor Garner, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 8
Philip Garner, who landed in New England in 1718 8
Hans Garner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 8
Hans Geo Garner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 8
Hans Jorg Garner, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1750 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Garner, who arrived in South Carolina in 1810 8
William Garner, who landed in America in 1811 8
Thomas Garner, aged 45, who arrived in Kentucky in 1812 8
Daniel Garner, aged 47, who landed in New York in 1812 8
Arthur Garner, who arrived in Texas in 1835 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Garner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Garner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. John Garner U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9
Mr. John Garner Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9
Mr. William Garner U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 9

Garner Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Andrew Garner, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Garner migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Garner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Maria Garner, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. John Garner, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. George Godfrey Garner who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Samuel Garner, (b. 1803), aged 38, Enlgish waterman who was convicted in Staffordshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1849 13
Mr. John Garner, English convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garner migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Garner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Garner, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
John Garner, aged 36, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mary Ann Garner, aged 29, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mr. John Garner, (b. 1803), aged 36, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 15
Mrs. Garner, (b. 1810), aged 29, British settler travelling from London with 3 children aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garner migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Garner Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Miller Garner, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Garner (post 1700) +

Jennifer Garner (b. 1972), American Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award winning actress and film producer 17
James Garner (1928-2014), born James Scott Bumgarner, American film and television actor, recipient of the Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
Julia Garner (b. 1994), American actress best known for her role as Ruth Langmore in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark. Winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Pippa Garner (1942-2024), American artist, illustrator, industrial designer, and writer known for making parody forms of consumer products and custom bicycles and automobiles
Dwight Eugene Garner (1964-2022), American professional football player who was a running back for the California Golden Bears
John Garner (1952-2015), American rock drummer and vocalist for the band Sir Lord Baltimore
Paul "Mousie" Garner (1909-2004), American actor, referred to as "The Grand Old Man Of Vaudeville"
Jack Edward Garner (1926-2011), born Jack Edward Bumgarner, an American film and television actor, brother of James Garner
Charlie Garner III (b. 1972), former American NFL football running back
Peggy Ann Garner (1932-1984), American Academy Juvenile Award winning child actress
... (Another 27 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Garner family +

HMS Dorsetshire

William Douglas Garner (d. 1945), born in Mold, Flintshire, Wales, WelshLeading Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 18

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Bernard C Garner, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19
Mr. Walter Ernest Garner, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 19

HMS Repulse

Mr. John Ernest Garner, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, was listed as missing in action 20

USS Indianapolis

Glenn Richard Garner, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 21

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Jennifer Garner. (Retrieved 2011, January 24) Jennifer Garner. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Garner
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew