Surname Goerner - Meaning and Origin
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Goerner: What does the surname Goerner mean?
The last name Goerner is a German-origin surname with multiple meanings. It can refer to an individual who used to go, or was fond of travelling, as suggested in the root word ‘gehern’. Alternatively, it may have been derived from the Middle High German word ‘görenner’, which literally translates to ‘someone who tends a forest.’ Given its origin, it’s possible Goerner could have been used to describe an individual who was an official forest warden or exploiter, or perhaps worked in some other resource-related profession. It is also possible that Goerner could have been given to people who lived in a certain geographic area, such as near a forest or on the edge of a field.
In more recent times, the name Goerner has also come to be associated with the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War, and is sometimes seen in connection with Nazi war crimes of the era. However, this is only a small association with the name and certainly doesn’t reflect on people who currently bear the Goerner surname.
Overall, the name Goerner has a rich and varied history which spans multiple centuries and cultures. Depending on the context, it may have referred to a traveller, woodcutter, forester, or simply someone who lived in a certain area. It’s a fascinating name with a surprisingly complicated history.
Order DNA origin analysisGoerner: Where does the name Goerner come from?
Goerner is a German surname and can be found all over the world due to German emigration. Today, it is most commonly found in Germany and Czech Republic, as well as in some parts of the US and Canada. According to the US Census Bureau, Goerner is the 4,772nd most common surname in the US, primarily concentrated in the Midwestern states such as Michigan and Wisconsin.
In Germany, Goerner is most common in the south of the country, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is also found in small numbers across other parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece and Ukraine, as well as in some countries in South America, mainly Brazil and Argentina.
The name is thought to be a variant of Gören, which was derived from the Middle High German 'goyren' meaning 'to be angry'. It is also thought to be related to the old Germanic word 'gorn', meaning 'to be grumpy'. Today, Goerner is associated with humble beginnings, as it is a common name among farmers and peasants.
Variations of the surname Goerner
Goerner is a surname of German origin. It is most frequently seen spelled as Goerner, but can also be spelled as Görner, Goerrner, Goernerr, or Goernar. All variants of this surname share the same meaning and origin.
The name Goerner has its origin in the Germanic elements “guter” which means “good” and “ner” which means “brave”. The literal meaning of the name is thus “brave and good”. It is thought to have originally been used as a byname for a courageous person, and thus is derived from the pedigree name Goerner.
Goerner is known as a habitational name, deriving from one of several towns and villages named Görner found throughout Germany. These places were thus established by a person with the surname Goerner who moved to the area and built a family home, resulting in the name being adopted as a form of a toponymic call sign.
In other countries, variants of the name Goerner (or its original form Goerner) may be encountered. In places like the United States, people with this name may be found spelling it as Gorner, Gooner, Goenner, Gorener, or Goorer. In Poland, the surname may take the form of Górner, Goornar, Gorner, or Gournar. In Netherlands, the spelling is usually Goorner or Gouwenaar.
In essence, no matter how the name Goerner is spelled, all forms of the surname will ultimately trace back to the same origin and will all carry the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Goerner
- Friedrich August Goerner (1855–1917), German botanist
- Friedemann Goerner (1701–1766), German organist, composer, and violinist
- Fred Goerner (1917–1966), American aviation journalist
- Wilhelm Goerner (1855–1915), German zoologist
- Gerd Goerner (born 1954), German footballer
- Karl Goerner (1905–1994), German-American philosopher
- Günter Goerner (1933–1988), German rower
- Tony Goerner (born 1964), German rock musician
- Günther Goerner (born 1952), German slalom canoeist
- Peter Goerner (1927–2003), German missionary