All our tracks and ways - available October 2024
Gardner
Gardner is a surname of English, Scottish or Irish origin. Some sources claim that it is an occupational surname that comes from the word "gardener." It would have been an occupational name that reflected the status of the head gardner of a noble or even royal house. Derived from the Northern French word "gardin" and introduced into the British Isles after the Norman Invasion of 1066. This word was itself a diminutive of the pre 7th century Germanic word "gard", meaning an enclosure. The function of the "gardiniere" in medieval times was a very important one. He was responsible for the kitchen garden, which provided almost the only source of fresh food and herbs, and hence played a critical part in maintaining the health of the household. The use of the word "gardener" refers to one who tends ornamental lawns and flower beds, and is a later application.
Other sources claim that the name derives from the Saxon words gar, meaning "a weapon", and dyn' meaning "sound or alarm". When combined with the termination "er" we get the name Gair-den-er,” meaning a warrior or one who bears arms.
Early variants included Gardyner, Gardener, Gardenar, Gardinier, Gardiner, and Gardner; the last two are the most common today." Spelling variations include: Gardiner, Gardner, and others.
In the UK the surname was first in Oxfordshire where they were seated from very early times. Early records show William le Gardinier in County Rutland in 1199; William Gardin at Huntingdon in 1218; John atte Gardyne in Sussex in 1296; and Walter le Gardiner in London in 1292.
George Gardner arrived in Australia on 25 Feb 1836 as a convict aged about 23 years old aboard Recovery. He married Mary Grimes at Capertee (NSW) on 14 Feb 1846. They lived their lives in the Central West of NSW. George died at Coonamble in 1890 and is buried in Coonamble cemetery.
Our Gardner ancestors include the following people. Click on any name to access a computer-generated page of information about that person and a list of the information sources.
Click on the name of any of the notable ancestors listed below to read a short biography that I have written about them.
For centuries families have created memorials to honour their forebears, including headstones, church monuments, memorial cards, obituaries and much more. This website is, in a way, just another innovation in this regard. Each of the links below takes you to a memorial page that is dedicated to that particular deceased ancestor.
The Gardner clan descends from George Gardner (1813 - 1890).