Surname Dorner - Meaning and Origin

Exploration of Dorner Surname Origins Through iGENEA's Accurate DNA Testing

The DNA test conducted at iGENEA was a brush with my past, revealing the roots of the Dorner surname, historically tied to Bavaria and associated with the professional class of iron workers or ore miners. Driven by the highly accurate autosomal DNA test, this analysis presented rich, well-researched insights into my lineage.

K. Dorner

Dorner: What does the surname Dorner mean?

The last name Dorner is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word dorn, meaning "spine." The name may have originated as a nickname for someone who was tall and thin, or it could have been used as an occupational name for someone who was a thresher of grain. It may also have been used to identify a region of Germany, since some areas of medieval Germany had dorn, or "thorny," plains.

The Dorner surname can be found in records as early as 1315, when Henricus Dorner of Straub Recorded in a number of spellings including Dörn, Dorner, Dörner, Thorn and Thorne, this is a medieval nickname surname. It derives from the word dorn, itself from the pre 7thuelling period, Olde Germanic language, meaning spine or thorn. It was probably a nickname for a thin and long person, or a perhaps a threshing machine operator, and was also used to describe localities with 'thorny' plains and ground.

The surname was first recorded in places such as Saxony and Bavaria, and was an important and respected family name in Germany and Austria. Many Dorners and Dörners traveled to the United States during the mid- to late 19th century, settling in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Today, the Dorner name is fairly common, mainly in America, and the original meaning of the name is still widely understood. People named Dorner can take pride in their German heritage, and the meaning of their surname.

Dorner: Where does the name Dorner come from?

The last name Dorner is a German name that is today most commonly used in its native country of Germany. The name is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe, but is not as commonly found in other parts of the world. According to the office for Statistics of Germany, the last name Dorner was the 759th most common last name in Germany in 2019. The name is derived from the Middle High German word “dorn”, meaning “thorn”, and is thought to have been a nickname for a somebody who acted aggressively and was difficult to deal with. One of the most notable bearers of the Dorner name is the American figure Christopher Dorner, who was a Los Angeles police officer and former U.S. Navy reservist. He went on a killing rampage in early 2013, fatally shooting several people, culminating in his own death in a burning cabin. Today, the Dorner name has various people from Germany and other European countries bearing it.

Variations of the surname Dorner

The surname Dorner is an occupational name meaning someone who worked as a grain cleaner, derived from the Old German word “dorrener”. Although this surname is fairly uncommon, there are various spellings and variants of the name.

The various spellings and variants of the surname Dorner include: Dorn, Darner, Torn, Thorn, Turn, Thurn, Tarnner, Tern, Thurner, Thurn, Maher, Tharner and Thurner.

The surname has also been recorded in various countries around the world, and some of the regional variations include: Thurnauer (Germany), Dornier (France), Dorney (England), Dørner (Norway), Turn (Sweden), Dhorner (Eastern Europe) and Dorneru (Romania).

It is also common for this surname to be found with different surnames due to different spelling techniques. Some of these surnames include: Darn, Darton, Darraine, Dern, Dairyne, Derner, Dearne, Darling, Dawner, Daarn, Duron, Dunner, Durner, Durnay, Duron, Doran, Durran, Darrin, Durrane, Dorin, Doiran, Doin, Darwyn, Dore, Doten, Daunt, Daien and Derren.

In conclusion, the surname Dorner has a variety of spellings, variants and regional surnames which can be derived from it. The various forms of this surname are a result of changing spelling techniques over time, as well as the migration of the surname through different countries.

Famous people with the name Dorner

• Chris Dorner: former United States Naval Reserves lieutenant who carried out a campaign against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
• Tracie Dorner: American figure skater who, together with partner Rolf Adomeit, won two national ice dancing titles.
• Dave Dorner: American amateur basketball player who won the bronze medal with the USA team at the 1969 Pan American Games.
• Harold D. Dorner: American-born lawyer who served as Attorney-General of The Bahamas from 1972 to 1989.
• Roy Dorner: American middle-distance runner who ran for the United States in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
• Kara Dorner: American soccer player who won two NCAA Division II titles as well as five All-America honors during her collegiate career.
• Ken Dorner: American baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Browns and the Detroit Tigers in the 1940-1950s.
• Bertram O. Dorner: World War II veteran and one of the most decorated soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division.
• Michael Dorner: American alpine ski racer and two-time Olympian who competed in the slalom and giant slalom events.
• William Dorner: American professional bodybuilder in the 1960s and 1970s who was featured in muscle magazines of the time.

Other surnames

Dornemann