Killner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Killner

What does the name Killner mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Killner comes from when its first bearer worked as a lime burner, a person in charge of a kiln. 1 2

Early Origins of the Killner family

The surname Killner was first found in Cumbria, England at St. Mary Ulverston where early records show Elizabeth Kilner was baptised in 1545. Esabell Kilner was buried there in 1546 and in 1560 Anthonie Kilner was baptised. The Lancashire Wills at Richmond show Thomas Kilner, of Aldingham on record in 1587. 1

Early History of the Killner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Killner research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1508, 1626, 1627 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Killner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Killner Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Killner include Kilner, Kilnore, Kelner and others.

Early Notables of the Killner family

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

Migration of the Killner family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Killner or a variant listed above: William Kilner, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1762.

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.