Gardiner (surname)

Gardiner is a surname of multiple origins, most commonly found in English-speaking countries.

Etymology and Origins:

The surname Gardiner derives from several potential sources:

• Occupational: The most common origin is occupational, denoting someone who worked as a gardener. This would typically refer to someone who cultivated and maintained gardens, whether for pleasure, food production, or for medicinal herbs. The word "gardiner" itself comes from the Old French "gardinier," which in turn originates from the Frankish "gardo" (meaning enclosure or garden).

• Locational: In some cases, Gardiner may be locational, indicating someone who lived near a prominent garden or enclosed area.

• Scottish Variant: In Scotland, Gardiner can be a variant of the surname Garden. The Garden family derives its name from lands in Banffshire.

Distribution:

The surname Gardiner is widely distributed, particularly in the United Kingdom (especially England), the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Notable People with the Surname Gardiner:

• Alan Gardiner (Sir Alan Henderson Gardiner): A prominent English Egyptologist, known for his work on Egyptian grammar and hieroglyphs.
• Samuel Rawson Gardiner: An English historian known for his multi-volume history of England from the accession of James I to the English Civil War.
• Erle Stanley Gardner: An American author and lawyer, best known for the Perry Mason series of detective novels.
• John Eliot Gardiner: An English conductor, particularly known for his interpretations of Baroque music.
• Robert Gardiner: Multiple people with this name, including politicians, military figures, and sportspeople. A disambiguation page would be needed to identify specific notable individuals.
• Lesley-Ann Gardiner: A British voice actress.

Variations:

Common variations of the surname Gardiner include:

• Gardner
• Gartner
• Gardyner

Related Names:

The surname is related to other occupational surnames associated with land cultivation, such as Farmer.