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Show ContentsThurner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Today's generation of the Thurner family bears a name that was brought to England by the wave of migration that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Thurner is a name for a lathe worker. The surname Thurner was originally derived from the Old French verb tourneour, meaning to turn on a lathe. Such a craftsman would have fashioned basically cylindrical objects out of wood, metal, and bone. [1]

Early Origins of the Thurner family

The surname Thurner was first found in Oxfordshire in midland England but was found throughout England. "It is well represented in the midlands, especially in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire, and is also numerous in Lancashire." [2] Mark Antony Lower in his source Patronymica Britannica suggests that the name is all "out of all proportion, to the number of persons engaged in the trade" of the lathe. He argues that the family may have first appeared before the Conquest in a grant to the monastery of Croyland, in 1051, being signed, among others, by a Turnerus Capellanus. [3] Moreover, the family was also quite numerous in Scotland from early times.

The Hundredorum Rolls list: Aylbricht le Turnur in London in 1271; Geoffrey le Turner in Cambridgeshire; and William le Tumor in Oxfordshire. The latter two listings were probably made in 1273. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Johannes Tumour, turnour. Ironically there are very few listings in the early rolls of the trade. Calendarium Rotulorum Originalium listed William le Tournour and Kirby's Quest listed Henry le Tornour in Somerset during the first year of Edward III reign. [4] [1]

In Scotland, "a family of this name had possession of the estate of Ardwall in the parish of New Abbey for many generations." [5] Black continues Thomas dictus Tumour held land in Aberdeen in 1382; John Turnoure held land in Irvine in 1426; William Tumour, merchant of Scotland, had a safe conduct in England, 1473; William Turnoure is recorded in Edinburgh, 1482.

Early History of the Thurner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thurner research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1191, 1300, 1500, 1575, 1585, 1591, 1600, 1607, 1615, 1617, 1623, 1626, 1638, 1645, 1662, 1663, 1668, 1669, 1672, 1675, 1676, 1677, 1688, 1691, 1693, 1700, 1707, 1714, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Thurner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thurner Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Thurner has been recorded under many different variations, including Turner, Turnerus, Turnor, Turnour, Turnoure and many more.

Early Notables of the Thurner family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Cyril Tourneur, Turnour or Turner (1575?-1626), English dramatist, born about 1575, probably a near relative and possibly the son of Captain Richard Turnor or Turner; Sir Timothy Turner SL JP (1585-1677), an English judge; Thomas Turner (1591-1672), an English Royalist churchman and Dean of Canterbury; Sir Edward Turnor or Turnour (1617-1676), Speaker of the House of Commons of England; Sir Edmund Turnor (died 1707) of Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire; Sir Christopher Turnor (1607-1675), an English judge, knight and Royalist; Francis Turner D.D. (c. 1638-1700), English...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thurner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Thurner family to Ireland

Some of the Thurner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Thurner family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Thurners were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: William Turner who settled in Maine in 1607 thirteen years before the "Mayflower"; Henry Turner, who settled in Virginia in 1615; Robert Turner, who was on record in Virginia in 1619.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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