Turner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Turner is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Turner is a name for a lathe worker. The surname Turner 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 Turner family

The surname Turner 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 Turner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turner research.

Turner Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person’s name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Turner family name include Turner, Turnerus, Turnor, Turnour, Turnoure and many more.

Early Notables of the Turner family (pre 1700)

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 Turner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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. [6] However, in Canada, the name Turner is ranked the 111^stmost popular surname with an estimated 26,409 people with that name. [7] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Turner is the 395^th popular surname with an estimated 118 people with that name. [8] Australia ranks Turner as 37^th with 45,848 people. [9] New Zealand ranks Turner as 28^th with 5,764 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Turner as 28^th with 109,971 people. [11]

 Migration of the Turner family to Ireland

Some of the Turner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Turner migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Turner family to immigrate North America: 

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” [12]
• 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

Turner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Andrew Turner, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [13]
• Charles Turner, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [13]
• James Turner, who arrived in Georgia in 1733 [13]
• Alexander Turner, who landed in New England in 1738 [13]
• John Turner and his wife Elizabeth Turner, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1742

Turner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Bartlett Turner, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [13]
• Bartholomew Turner, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 [13]
• Cath Turner, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 [13]
• Duncan Turner, who landed in New York in 1820 [13]
• Mr. Patrick Turner, aged 21, Irish labourer who arrived in New York in 1846 aboard the ship “Stephen Whitney”

Turner Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Alfred Turner, who arrived in Mississippi in 1902 [13]
• Albert Harry Turner, who arrived in Alabama in 1921 [13]

 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 [14]
• 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 [15]
• 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 [15]

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

 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 [16]
• 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 [17]
• 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 [18]
• 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 [19]
• 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 [20]

 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

 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. [21]

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 [22]
• Mr. Mathew Turner, (b. 1589), aged 46, British settler traveling aboard the ship “Paul of London” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [22]

Contemporary Notables of the name Turner (post 1700) +

• 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 GrammyAwards 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
• Stansfield M. Turner (1923-2018), American Rhodes Scholar, 12th Director of Central Intelligence (1977-1981), 37th President of the Naval War College (1972-1974)