Gardiner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


Gardiner is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once worked as a gardener. The surname Gardiner originally derived from the Old French word gardinier. 1

It was later adopted in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. Occupational names have remained fairly common in the modern period. This is attested to by the continuing appearance of occupational suffixes at the end of many English surnames. Some of these suffixes include: herd, monger, maker, hewer, smith, and wright. Similarly, surnames of office, which include military, judicial, papal and other positions of authority, are widespread throughout Europe. Those who were involved in the military, or feudal armies, were given names such as the English surname Archer, the French name Chevalier and the German name Jeger, which means hunter. Names that were derived from judicial and papal titles, such asBailiffe, Squire and Abbott, are still commonly seen with the same surname spelling today.

Early Origins of the Gardiner family

The surname Gardiner was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat from very early times. Early records show William le Gardinier in county Rutland in 1199; William Gardin, listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Huntingdon in 1218, John atte Gardyne, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296; and Walter le Gardiner listed in the Subsidy Rolls for London in 1292. 2

The name is "most characteristic of the midland counties, and of the eastern counties south of the Wash. Singularly rare in the south - west, and in the north of England, excepting Lancashire. At present best represented in Essex, Lancashire, and Warwickshire." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has the following entries for the family: Geoffrey le Gardiner, Oxfordshire; Richard le Gardiner, Cambridgeshire; Ralph le Gardener, Huntingdonshire; and William le Gardiner, or Gardener, Lincolnshire. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had only two entries:Thomas Gardiner; and Thomas Garchiner as holding lands there at that time.

In Scotland, the name was rendered in Latin charters as ortolanus and under that spelling the first Scottish record was found: Rogerus Ortolanus, who was juror on an inquest in 1296. "In 1329 there is record of meal delivered to Nicholas Gerdener who is again referred to as Nicholas ortolanus. Gilbert ortolanus is also referred to in the same source. Robert Gardnar was a notary public in the diocese of Dunblane in 1426." 5

Early History of the Gardiner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gardiner research. Another 301 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1300, 1370, 1452, 1454, 1458, 1478, 1486, 1493, 1503, 1531, 1535, 1545, 1555, 1589, 1591, 1592, 1599, 1604, 1624, 1635, 1636, 1637, 1640, 1662, 1663, 1668, 1674, 1688, 1695, 1705, 1726, 1732, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gardiner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gardiner Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Gardiner include Gardiner, Gardner and others.

Early Notables of the Gardiner family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Gardiner World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gardiner is the 2,771st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Gardiner is ranked the 809th most popular surname with an estimated 6,662 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Gardiner is the 303rd popular surname with an estimated 11,795 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Gardiner as 194th with 2,887 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Gardiner as 407th with 16,024 people. 10

Migration of the Gardiner family to Ireland

Some of the Gardiner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gardiner migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Gardiner were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Gardiner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Gardiner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Gardiner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gardiner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gardiner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Gardiner Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Gardiner migration to Australia +

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

Gardiner Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Gardiner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Gardiner 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:

Gardiner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Gardiner (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Gardiner +
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