Gardner (surname)


Gardner is a surname of English, Scottish or Irish origin. Some sources say it is an occupational surname that comes from the word "gardener". Other sources claim that it is derived from the Saxon words gar, meaning "a weapon", and dyn meaning "sound or alarm", combined with the termination er gives the name "Gair-den-er", which means "a warrior", "one who bears arms". Early variants included Gardyner, Gardener, Gardenar, Gardinier, Gardiner, and Gardner; the last two are the most common today.
There is a tradition held by some of the descendants of William Gardiner, son of George of Newport, that William won his crest at Acre in 1191, by chopping through the shoulder of a Saracen who was about to kill Richard Coeur de Lion or Richard the Lionheart, hence the Saracen's head on the coat of arms.
As a surname, Gardner is the 132nd most common surname in Great Britain, It is most common in Lancashire, and Greater London, where it is the 84th and 144th most common surname, in both counties having 4,911 bearers, respectively. Other concentrations include, Shetland Islands,, Nottinghamshire,, South Ayrshire,, North Lanarkshire,, Derbyshire,, West Sussex,, Cambridgeshire,, Lincolnshire,, Greater Manchester,, Hertfordshire,, and, Essex.
It may refer to:

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