Show ContentsRadner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Radner family

The surname Radner was first found in Radnorshire (Welsh: Sir Faesyfed), a former historic county of mid-Wales, anciently part of the kingdom of Powys, where they held a family seat. 1 2

The Celtic resistance north and south along the border of Wales and England was considerably increased after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Normans met more resistance from the Welsh than in the rest of England.

The Welsh fought from behind their hills and mountains and tenaciously held their ground. Finally, Edward 1st, to placate this founding nation, conferred the principality of Wales upon his eldest son, who became Edward II. This brought Wales into England as an equal while the King was alive, and integral part of the royal title when on the throne. Edward III confirmed and all Princes of Wales were presented to the Welsh people at Caernarvon Castle. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Welsh surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1193 when John Radenoura held estates in Radnor and Herefordshire. 3 They were allied by marriage to the Ap Reese of Washingly.

Early History of the Radner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Radner research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1255, 1260, 1398, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Radner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Radner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ridenour, Ridener, Ridner, Radnor, Radnall, Redinhale, Radner, Radmall and many more.

Early Notables of the Radner family

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


United States Radner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Radner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Radner, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Radner (post 1700) +

  • Roy Radner (1927-2022), American economist and a Leonard N. Stern School Professor of Business at New York University, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories
  • Gilda Susan Radner (1946-1989), American Emmy Award winning comedian and actress, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL), remembered for Gilda's Club, now known as the Cancer Support Community, a cancer support group co-founded by her husband Gene Wilder
  • Sidney Hollis Radner (1919-2011), American rug salesman who owned one of the world's largest and most valuable collections of Harry Houdini artifacts
  • Maria Friderike Radner (1981-2015), German contralto and internationally renowned opera singer killed in the plane crash of Germanwings Flight 9525


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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)


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