Contents [hide]

Turner History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Turner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Austria
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Turner family

The surname Turner was first found in Germany, where the name Turner came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.

Early History of the Turner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turner research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1854 is included under the topic Early Turner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Turner, Turnner, Turrner, Turnerr, Turnere, Turners, Turnerse, Turne and many more.

Early Notables of the Turner family

Notables of the time with the name Turner included

the Turner family of Germany

Turner World Ranking

In the United States, the name Turner is the 44^th most popular surname with an estimated 378,024 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Turner is ranked the 111^st most popular surname with an estimated 26,409 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Turner is the 395^th popular surname with an estimated 118 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Turner as 37^th with 45,848 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Turner as 28^th with 5,764 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Turner as 28^th with 109,971 people. 6

Turner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Turner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Turner who settled in Maine in 1607
Henry Turner, who settled in Virginia in 1615
Mr. Thomas Turner, aged 11, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 aboard the ship "Mary Gold" 7
Robert Turner, aged 26, who was on record in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Tryall/Triall"
Abraham Turner, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andrew Turner, who landed in Virginia in 1701 8
Charles Turner, who landed in Virginia in 1705 8
James Turner, who arrived in Georgia in 1733 8
Alexander Turner, who landed in New England in 1738 8
John Turner and his wife Elizabeth Turner, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1742
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bartlett Turner, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
Bartholomew Turner, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 8
Cath Turner, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 8
Duncan Turner, who landed in New York in 1820 8
Mr. Patrick Turner, aged 21, Irish labourer who arrived in New York in 1846 aboard the ship "Stephen Whitney"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alfred Turner, who arrived in Mississippi in 1902 8
Albert Harry Turner, who arrived in Alabama in 1921 8

Turner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Turner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Francis Turner, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Eleonora Turner, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
William Turner, who settled in Bonavista, Newfoundland in 1765 9
Mr. Edward Turner U.E. who settled in Western District [The townships of Essex County and Kent County], Ontario c. 1778 arrived with 2 children 10
Private. Holden Turner U.E. who settled in Lincoln, Sunbury County, New Brunswick c. 1783 was passenger number 466 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA arriving in Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 he served in the 22nd Regiment of Foot 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Daniel Turner, who landed in Canada in 1832
John Turner, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
Agnes Turner, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834
William Turner, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
John Turner, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner migration to Australia +

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

Turner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. David Turner, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. James Turner, (Roberts, Richard), British convict who was convicted in Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. George Turner, (b. 1790), aged 23, English labourer who was convicted in Maidstone, Kent, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1872 13
Mr. Francis Turner, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Thomas Turner, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner 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:

Turner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Peter Turner, who landed in Friendly Island, NZ, New Zealand in 1830
W Turner, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1834
Thomas Turner, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
Benjamin Turner, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
W Turner, who landed in Waipa River, New Zealand in 1839
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turner migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Turner Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Turner, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17
Mr. Mathew Turner, (b. 1589), aged 46, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Turner (post 1700) +

Brit Turner (1967-2024), American drummer for BlackBerry Smoke
James Bayard "Jim" Turner (1941-2023), American professional football placekicker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos
Tina Turner (1939-2023), born Anna Mae Bullock, American Hall of Fame singer and actress named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone, she received 12 Grammy Awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Robert Ray "Bob" Turner (1934-2022), American Democrat politician, he served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 2003
Warwick Lancelot Armstrong "Rick" Turner III (1943-2022), American builder of guitars and basses who created instruments for rock musicians including Lindsey Buckingham, John Entwistle, and Jesse Colin Young
Sonny Turner (1938-2022), American singer from Fairmont, West Virginia, best known for replacing Tony Williams as lead singer of The Platters
Loyce W. Turner (1927-2021), American politician, Member of the Georgia State Senate (1975-1998)
Douglas Laird Turner (1932-2018), American rower who competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Charles H. Turner (1936-2018), American lawyer, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon (1982-1993)
Pete Turner (1934-2017), American photographer, one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time and in 1981 the American Society of Media Photographers
... (Another 48 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Turner family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Vincent L Turner (1958-1985), American Sergeant from Huntsville, Alabama, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 18

Bradford City stadium fire

Sarah Turner (1969-1985), from Bingley who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and she died in the fire
Howard Turner (1944-1985), from Bingley who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Joseph Turner, British Assistant Cook from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 19
Mr. Joseph Henry Turner (1890-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Calgary, Alberta, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 19

Fraterville mine

Mr. Milburn Turner (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 20

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. J. Victor Turner (b. 1866), American former city councilman working at the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 21

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Henry Turner (1855-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mrs. Turner, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mr. N Turner, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mr. Harold Turner, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mr. Allen A Turner (1897-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. William Turner (1879-1914), English Miner from Wigan, Lancashire,, England, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 23
Mr. Thomas Turner (1883-1914), English Miner from Wigan, Lancashire,, England, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 23

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Harold Turner (1911-1941), Australian Signalman from Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Kenneth James Turner (1921-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Frankston, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24
Mr. George Alfred Turner (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class from West Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24
Mr. William Ross Turner (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24

HMS Dorsetshire

Peter Turner, British crew member aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 25

HMS Hood

Mr. John Turner (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Cheadle, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
Mr. George H F Turner (b. 1917), Scottish Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
Mr. George F Turner (b. 1918), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Wilfred B Turner, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Robert Turner, British Engine Room Artificer 5th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Percy P Turner, British Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. James Turner, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. James Crowley Turner, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27

HMS Repulse

Mr. Harold Turner, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 28
Mr. George Turner, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
Mr. James Turner, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
Mr. Lionel Turner, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
Mr. Herbert Lewis Turner, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 28
... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Royal Oak

Reginald A. Turner, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 29
Sidney Victor Turner (1920-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 29

Lady of the Lake

Mr. John Turner, Irish traveller from County Tyrone, Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he survived the sinking

RMS Lusitania

Captain William Thomas Turner, English Captain from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 30
Mr. Joseph Turner, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30
Mr. Scott Turner, American 1st Class Passenger from Lansing, Michigan, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 31

RMS Titanic

Mr. Leopold Turner (d. 1912), aged 28, English First Class Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire (Shropshire) who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 32

USS Arizona

Mr. Richard N. Turner Jr., American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 33

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html