Kerner (surname)

Kerner is a surname of German origin. It is derived from a variety of sources, including occupational names and locational names.

One possible origin is as an occupational surname for someone who made or sold grain (kernels). In this case, it is likely derived from the Middle High German word "kern" meaning "kernel" or "grain."

Another possibility is that it originated as a locational surname for someone who lived near a prominent grain field or a place named with reference to kernels. Topographic surnames of this kind were common in the medieval period.

The surname Kerner is found primarily in Germany and in regions with significant German diaspora populations, such as the United States and Canada.

Variants of the name may include Kern, Körner, and Kerner.