Show ContentsVanner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Vanner family

The surname Vanner was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1285 when William Fanner held lands.

Early History of the Vanner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vanner research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Vanner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vanner Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Vanner include Fanner, Vanner, Vannah, Vannar, Fannar and others.

Early Notables of the Vanner family

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


United States Vanner migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Vanner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Vanner, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 1
Vanner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Casper Vanner, who settled in Allegany Co. Maryland in 1837

Australia Vanner migration to Australia +

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

Vanner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Vanner, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Thetis" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Vanner (post 1700) +

  • Ralph Vanner, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 2004 3

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Thomas Ewart Vanner (1891-1914), Belgian Third Class Passenger from Antwerp, Belgium who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 4


  1. 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)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THETIS 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Thetis.htm
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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