Show ContentsJenner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Jenner was first brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from the Old French "engigneor" or "enginior," meaning "engineer, maker of military machines." During the 12th century, the term "ingeniator" was used to refer to men who worked as both master-mason and architect. 1

The Joyner variant is "an occupative term came into use somewhat later than carpenter." 2 Waldinus Ingeniator (the engineer) occurs in the Domesday Book of Lincolnshire, as a tenant in chief. 3

Early Origins of the Jenner family

The surname Jenner was first found in Yorkshire during the 12th century. The first recorded bearer of the name was Ailnoth Ingeniator, a military architect who served as surveyor of royal buildings in 1157. He supervised building operations at Windsor between 1166 and 1173, repaired Westminster Abbey after a fire, and headed the destruction of Framlingham and Walton Castles. 4

Other early bearers of the name include Richard Lenginnur, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire between 1191 and 1197, and William Enginur, who was living in Suffolk in 1202. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hugh le Ginnur in Oxfordshire and William le Engynur in Suffolk. 2 William Joynier was Lord Mayor of London in 1239.

Records in Scotland are very scarce, but here the name is a "variant of Jenner, influenced by the occupative name 'joiner.' Alexander Joyner in Aberdeen, 1798. As far as the Jenner variant is concerned, the first on record here was Anneys la Gynnere del counte de Berewyk who rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. "In 1392 there is reference to the tenement of Alan Gynowr in Edinburgh, Patrik Genour held lands in Inverness in 1452, umquhile Thomas Genor is referred to in 1492, Donald Jenor, 'legislator,' is mentioned in 1499, William Genour was tenant of the Casteltoun, Ardmanoch in 1504." 5

Early History of the Jenner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jenner research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1296, 1452, 1564, 1622, 1631, 1637, 1656, 1662, 1668, 1676, 1678, 1687, 1691, 1706, 1707 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Jenner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jenner Spelling Variations

Although the name, Jenner, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Jenner, Joyner, Joiner, Junor, Junior, Genner, Ginner, Genower and many more.

Early Notables of the Jenner family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • David Jenner (died 1691), an English clergyman and controversialist, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. "Afterwards he became a fellow of Sidney Sussex College, and took the degree of M.A. by roy...
  • Thomas Jenner (fl. 1631-1656), was an English author, engraver, and publisher, kept in the reigns of Charles I and Charles II a print-shop by the south entrance of the Royal Exchange, which was recomm...
  • Sir Thomas Jenner (1637-1707), was an English barrister, Baron of the Exchequer and Justice of the Common Pleas. He was born in 1637 at Mayfield, Sussex, and was eldest son of Thomas Jenner of that pl...

Jenner Ranking

In the United States, the name Jenner is the 13,254th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6


United States Jenner migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Jenner family name Jenner, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Jenner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Jenner, who settled in New England in 1636
  • Thomas Jenner, who arrived in New England in 1636 7
  • Obedience Jenner, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 7
Jenner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Jenner, who immigrated to Virginia in 1764
  • George Charles Jenner, who arrived in Maryland in 1794
Jenner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anne Jenner and her husband, who settled in New York in 1822 with their eight children
  • John Jenner, who landed in New York in 1825 7
  • Cath Jenner, who landed in America in 1840 7
  • D Jenner, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
  • Jayme Jenner, aged 28, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1855 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Jenner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jenner Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Jerh Jenner, who arrived in Canada in 1832
  • Patrick Jenner, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1838 aboard the barque "Rebecca" from Liverpool, England
  • James Jenner, who was listed in the 1871 census of Ontario

Australia Jenner migration to Australia +

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

Jenner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Francis Jenner, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Mr. John Jenner, British Convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. John Jenner, (b. 1789), aged 52, English labourer who was convicted in Wiltshire, 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 1844 10
  • Maurice Jenner, aged 30, a portrait painter, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 11
  • Joshua Jenner, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Poictiers" in 1848 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Jenner 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:

Jenner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Jenner, aged 22, a butcher, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
  • Daniel Jenner, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 13
  • Eliza Jenner, aged 14, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 13
  • James Jenner, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
  • Mr. Richard Jenner, (b. 1841), aged 38, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Stad Haarlem" arriving in Lyttleton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1879 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jenner (post 1700) +

  • Edward Jenner (1749-1823), English doctor who discovered the cure for smallpox and introducing smallpox vaccinations, born on 17 May 1749 at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, of which place his father, Stephen Jenner, was vicar 15
  • Caitlyn Jenner (b. 1949), born William "Bruce" Jenner, American track and field two-time gold medalist athlete, motivational speaker and now the most famous openly transgender person in the world
  • Sam Brody Jenner (b. 1983), American television personality, son of Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner
  • Barry Francis Jenner (b. 1941), American actor
  • William E. Jenner (1908-1985), American politician, U.S. Republican Indiana State and U.S. Senator
  • Sir William Jenner (1815-1898), English physician who discovered the distinction between typhus and typhoid
  • Henry Jenner (1848-1934), Cornish historian and language expert of the Celtic languages
  • Peter Jenner (b. 1943), English record producer
  • Boone Robbie Jenner (b. 1993), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Air Marshal Sir Timothy Jenner KCB, FRAeS, RAF (b. 1945), British senior Royal Air Force commander
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Harry Jenner (d. 1912), aged 41, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 16


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  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bardaster
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm
  12. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) POICTIERS 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Poictiers.htm
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 26 October 2020
  16. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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