Greiner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany

During the Middle Ages, the surname of Greiner was used in France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in France. Occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Greiner family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Greiner derives from the Old French word "grenier" and was an occupational name for a worker at a mill or granary.

Early Origins of the Greiner family

The surname Greiner was first found in île-de-France in the seigneurie of where they have held a family seat since ancient times.

The family later branched to Languedoc and Haute-Auvergne where Antoine Grenier de Lassagne is mentioned at Vaour in 1450. Branching once again, a family of gentleman glass makers, also related to ancient champion swordsmen, established themselves at Perigord.

Arnaud Grenier acquired Nabinaud in the parish of Pizou on 3rd October 1564 and with the added responsibilities of his nobility, he was relieved of his duties of the fiefs. Daniel, his son, became a captain January 1585. Guy, Daniel's son, was a gentleman cavalier and the Lord of Nabinaud and he married Rachel du Bruel in 1619. Daniel, Lord of Nabinaud and of Capejou had his nobility confirmed by a judgement from the court of tax disputes of Guyenne on 23rd February 1664. François Grenier de Pleaux and de la Borie was a famous chief of a political league. His descendant, Louis, marquis of Pleaux, married Marie de Montclar in 1711.

The Grenier de Moulon and de Sanxet family of Guyenne and Périgord received their rank of nobility in 1700 and their status was maintained in 1740. Branching once again, this time to Auvergne, Benoit, judge of Langeac, had a son, Jean, who was a Baron of the Empire in 1811. Antoine Grenier de Ruère, Jean's nephew, was the grand-father of Emile who married Julie Choriot de Ruère in 1882 and their son was adopted by Antoine of Ruère, his maternal uncle.

Charles Grenier, born in 1636, son of Guillaume, Sieur of Bois-Fontaine, and Françoise, Dame of Challeu of Tournebu, travelled from Normandy, France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Marie-Louise Vezina, daughter of Jacques and Marie (née Bouaselon), on 21st December 1664. They remained together in Quebec until Charles passed away at Beauport on 6th February 1717. 1

Early History of the Greiner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greiner research. The year 1252 is included under the topic Early Greiner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greiner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grenier, Grenie, Grenyer, Grenye, Greniait, Greniai, Greniaie, Greniay, Greniez, Grenyait, Grenyai, Grenyaie, Grenyay, Grenyez, Chenier, Chenie, Chenyer, Chenye, Cheniait, Cheniai, Cheniaie, Cheniay, Cheniez, Chenyait, Chenyai, Chenyaie, Chenyay, Chenyez, Grennier, Grennie, Grennyer, Grennye, Grenniait, Grenniai, Grenniaie, Grenniay, Grenniez, Grennyait, Grennyai, Grennyaie, Grennyay, Grennyez, Chennier, Chennie, Chennyer, Chennyer, Chenniait, Chenniai, Chenniaie, Cheniay, Chenniez, Chennyait, Chennyai, chennyaie, Chennyay and many more.

Early Notables of the Greiner family

More information is included under the topic Early Greiner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greiner Ranking

In the United States, the name Greiner is the 3,934^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Greiner is ranked the 6,245^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 3

Greiner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Greiner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joh Dietrich Greiner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 4
Johan Georg Greiner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 4
Anna Catharina Greiner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
Jacob Greiner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 4
Andreas Greiner, who arrived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1766 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Greiner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Margarete Greiner, who landed in Texas in 1846 4
Louise Greiner, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 4
Henrietta Greiner, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 4
I J Greiner, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1850 4
Carl Greiner, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1854 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Greiner (post 1700) +

Robinson Lewis Greiner Jr. (1932-2021), American pair skater who with Carole Ormaca, he was a four-time consecutive U.S. national champion, from 1953 to 1956
Arthur Greiner (1884-1916), American racecar driver
Jon Jay Greiner (b. 1951), American politician and Police Chief from Utah
Robert Lewis "Robin" Greiner (b. 1932), American pair skater
William Greiner (b. 1957), American photographer
Cynthia Greiner (b. 1957), retired American female heptathlete and long jumper
Walter Greiner (1935-2016), German theoretical physicist
Willy Greiner (1919-2000), Norwegian politician
Johann Gotthelf Greiner (1732-1797), German glassmaker
Frank Greiner (b. 1966), German football coach and a former player
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Greiner family +

Bismarck

Richard Greiner (1905-1941), German Stabsmachinist who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details