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. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1191, 1300, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1575, 1626, 1575, 1585, 1677, 1591, 1672, 1617, 1676, 1707, 1607, 1675, 1638, 1700, 1645, 1714, 1688, 1714, 1615, 1693, 1662, 1663, 1668, 1669, 1623, 1691, 1735.

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… 

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, who was on record in Virginia in 1619
• 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