Turner is a common

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

originating from Normandy, France, arriving in England after the Norman conquest with the earliest known records dated in the 12th century. It is the 28th-most common surname in the United Kingdom. Most often it derives from an occupational name applied to a maker of small objects out of wood, metal or bone, by turning on a

lathe A lathe () is a machine tool that rotates a workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, threading and turning, with tools that are applied to the w ...

(from

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th In this sense it is analogous to the German surnames Drexel, Drechsler">Drexel (name)">Drexel, Drechsler, Dressler">Drechsler.html" ;"title="Drexel (name)">Drexel, Drechsler">Drexel (name)">Drexel, Drechsler, Dressler, and Dreyer, Polish wikt:Tokarz, Tokarz, Finnish wikt:sorvari, Sorvari, Russian Токарев ('' Tokarev'') and related to English surnames such as

Potter A potter is someone who makes pottery. Potter may also refer to: Places United States *Potter, originally a section on the Alaska Railroad, currently a neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska, US *Potter, Arkansas *Potter, Nebraska *Potters, New Jerse ...

and Crocker. Other occasional origins include Old French ''tournoieur'', referring to someone either in charge of, or who participates in a tournament, and ''Turnhare'', referring to a fast runner (one who can outrun a

hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores and live Solitary animal, solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are precociality, able to fend for themselves ...

). Early recordings of this surname include Ralph le Turner in the late 12th century. The earliest recorded spelling of this family name dates from 1180 for "Warner le Turnur".

List of people with surname Turner

* Captain Turner (disambiguation), various people

Common combinations of given name and surname "Turner"

''These links lead to

disambiguation Word-sense disambiguation is the process of identifying which sense of a word is meant in a sentence or other segment of context. In human language processing and cognition, it is usually subconscious. Given that natural language requires ref ...

pages'' * Alan Turner * Albert Turner * Alfred Turner *

Alex Turner Alexander David Turner (born 6 January 1986) is an English musician. He is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Arctic Monkeys. Turner is known for his Songwriter, lyricism ranging from kitchen sink realism to surrealism, surreal ...

* Andrew Turner * Ann Turner * Anna Turner * Anne Turner * Benjamin Turner * Bert Turner * Brad Turner * Brian Turner *

Bruce Turner Malcom Bruce Turner (5 July 1922 – 28 November 1993) was an English jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Biography Born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England, and educated at Dulwich College, he learned to play the clarine ...

* Carl Turner * Charles Turner * Chris Turner * Cole Turner * Dan Turner * Daniel Turner * David Turner * D. J. Turner * Edward Turner * Edwin Turner * Elizabeth Turner (disambiguation) * Francis Turner *

Frank Turner Francis Edward Turner (born 28 December 1981) is an English Punk rock, punk and Folk music, folk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Hampshire. He began his career as the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, then embarked upon a primaril ...

* Fred Turner * George Turner * Graeme Turner (disambiguation) * Henry Turner * Herbert Turner * Hugh Turner * Ian Turner * Jack Turner * James Turner * Janet Turner * Jason Turner * Jay Turner * Jim Turner * Jimmy Turner * Joe Turner * Joel Turner *

John Turner John Napier Wyndham Turner (June 7, 1929September 19, 2020) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Canada from June to September 1984. He served as leader of the Liberal Party and leader of the Opposit ...

* Karl Turner * Kyle Turner * Laura Turner * Lynn Turner * Max Turner * Mark Turner * Mary Turner * Matthew Turner * Michael Turner * Neil Turner * Pat Turner * Paul Turner * Peter Turner * Philip Turner * Richard Turner * Robert Turner * Roger Turner * Ron Turner * Ross Sterling Turner * Sarah Turner * Steve Turner * Stuart Turner * Thomas Turner * William Turner

Less common first names

Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell Jonathan Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell (born 5 October 1955) is a British businessman and academic who was Chairman of the Financial Services Authority during the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession, serving from September ...

(born 1955), British businessman and academic * Afida Turner (born 1976), French media personality and singer * Aidan Turner (born 1983), Irish actor * Augustus J. Turner (1818–1905), American musician * Alice Bellvadore Sams Turner (1859–1915), American physician, writer * Anthea Turner (born 1960), UK TV presenter * Arlin Turner (1909–1980), American biographer and scholar of American literature * Arthur James Turner (politician) (1888–1983), Canadian politician * Asa Turner (American football), American college football player * Bake Turner, American football player who played wide receiver * Bertha L. Turner, American caterer, cookbook author, and community leader *

Big Joe Turner Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him". Turner's greatest fa ...

(1911–1985), American blues singer * Billie Lee Turner (1925–2020), American botanist *

Billie Lee Turner II Billie Lee Turner II (born December 22, 1945, Texas City, Texas) is an American geographer and human-environmental scientist, member of the National Academy of Sciences and other honorary institutions. Prominent among the third generation of the B ...

, American geographer * Bolon B. Turner (1897–1987), United States Tax Court judge * Bonnie and Terry Turner, husband and wife sitcom writing team * Bree Turner (born 1977), American actress * Brock Turner, rapist * Bulldog Turner (1919–1998), American football player * Carmen E. Turner (1931–1992), American public administrator * Chester Novell Turner, African-American filmmaker * Charlotte Turner, top auditor in London * Clarence W. Turner (1866–1939), American politician * Clorinda Matto de Turner (1853–1909), Peruvian writer * Crystal Turner (1982–2021), American female murder victim *

Curtis Turner Curtis Morton Turner (April 12, 1924 – October 4, 1970) was an American stock car racer who won 17 NASCAR Grand National Division races and 38 NASCAR Convertible Division races. Throughout his life, he developed a reputation for drinking and ...

(1924–1970), NASCAR driver * Daisy Turner, American storyteller and poet * Dallas Turner (born 2003), American football player *

Dawson Turner Dawson Turner (18 October 1775 – 21 June 1858) was an English banker, botanist and antiquary. He specialized in the botany of cryptogams and was the father-in-law of the botanist William Jackson Hooker and of the historian Francis Palgr ...

(1775–1858), English banker and botanist * Debbie Turner (born 1956), American actress and former child star * Debbye Turner (born 1965), American TV anchor, veterinarian, talk show host and former beauty queen * Decherd Turner (1922–2002), American institutional book collector * De'Lance Turner (born 1995), American football player * Dennis Turner, Baron Bilston (1942–2014), British Member of Parliament * Derek Turner, English rugby league footballer * Des Turner (born 1939), British politician * Diane Turner, American politician * Douglas H. Turner, American chemist and professor *

Dwayne Turner Dwayne Turner is an American comic book artist and illustrator in the film and video game industry. Biography Turner began his professional career in the late 1980s while still in collegeEdward Turner, British motorcycle and engine designer of Triumph Motorcycles * Ernest Sackville Turner (1909–2006), English journalist and author * Eugene S. Turner (1824–1915), American politician *

Evan Turner Evan Marcel Turner (born October 27, 1988) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He was most recently an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted second overall ...

(born 1988), American basketball player *

Florence Turner Florence Turner (January 6, 1885 – August 28, 1946) was an American actress who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films. Biography Born in New York City, Turner was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by h ...

(1885–1946), American actress * Florence Turner-Maley (1871–1962) American composer, singer and teacher *

(born 1981), British musician *

Frederick Jackson Turner Frederick Jackson Turner (November 14, 1861 – March 14, 1932) was an American historian during the early 20th century, based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison until 1910, and then Harvard University. He was known primarily for his front ...

(1861–1932), American historian * Garth Turner (born 1949), Canadian business journalist, broadcaster and politician * Geills Turner (born 1937), wife of John Turner, a prime minister of Canada * George Townsend Turner (1906–1979), philatelist of Washington, D.C. * Gerald Turner, perpetrator of the murder of Lisa Ann French * Glenn Turner (cricketer) (born 1947), New Zealand cricketer * Grant Turner (1958–2023), New Zealand soccer player *

Guinevere Turner Guinevere Jane Turner (born May 23, 1968) is an American actress, screenwriter, and film director. She wrote the films ''American Psycho'' and '' The Notorious Bettie Page'' and played the lead role of the dominatrix Tanya Cheex in '' Preachin ...

(born 1968), American actor and writer *

Hal Turner Harold Charles "Hal" Turner (born March 15, 1962) is an American political commentator and convicted felon from North Bergen, New Jersey, North Bergen, New Jersey. Turner's viewpoints typically encompass Holocaust denial and white supremacy, ...

, internet radio talk show host * Harald Turner (1891–1947), German Nazi SS commander executed for war crimes * Harvey G. Turner (1822–1893), American politician * Hayden Turner (born 1966), Australian television presenter and zookeeper * Helen Alma Newton Turner (1908–1995), Australian geneticist and statistician * Helen Monro Turner (1901–1977), Scottish artist * Howard Turner (1897–1976), American football player * Hugh Thackeray Turner (1853–1937), English architect *

Ike Turner Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and ...

(1931–2007), American musician * J. B. Turner, Australian cricketer fl. 1865–1867 *

J. M. W. Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 177519 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbu ...

(1775–1851), English painter * Jamie Turner (born 1972), American automobile dealer *

Jane Turner Jane Turner (born 1 December 1960) is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award-winning comedy series creator and screenwriter. She is widely known for her role as Kath in the TV sitcom ''Kath and Kim''. Career Jane Turner, although ...

(born 1967), Australian actor and comedian * Janine Turner (born 1962), American actor * Jasmine Turner (born 1994), Maltese footballer *

Jean Turner Jean McGivern Turner (born 23 December 1939) is a Scottish medical doctor and former independent (politician), Independent politician. She was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Scottish Parliament con ...

(born 1939), member of the Scottish Parliament *Jessica Turner (1996–2023), American woman shot to death by

police officer A police officer (also called policeman or policewoman, cop, officer or constable) is a Warrant (law), warranted law employee of a police, police force. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. ...

Jason Chamberlain in

Clearwater, Florida Clearwater is a city and the county seat of Pinellas County, Florida, United States, west of Tampa, Florida, Tampa and north of St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies T ...

* Jermaine Turner (born 1974), American professional basketball player * Jessie Franklin Turner (1881–1956), American fashion designer. * Jimmie Turner (born 1962), American football player *

Joe Lynn Turner Joe Lynn Turner (born Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito, August 2, 1951) is an American singer best known for his work with Rainbow (rock band), Rainbow, Deep Purple, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Turner joined Rainbow (rock band), Rainbow in the early 1980 ...

(born 1951), American musician * Joe M. Turner (born 1969), American magician, mentalist and speaker *

Jonathan Baldwin Turner Jonathan Baldwin Turner (December 7, 1805 – January 10, 1899) was an American classical scholar, agriculturalist, and abolitionist. He also led a political movement to create agriculture colleges, and campaigned to institute land grant unive ...

(1805–1899), abolitionist and educational leader * Jonathan D. C. Turner (born 1958), English barrister * Josh Turner (born 1977), musician * Julian Turner (born 1955), British poet and mental health worker * Justin Turner (born 1984), American professional baseball player *

Kathleen Turner Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. Known for her distinctive deep husky voice, she is the recipient of two Golden Globes, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards. After debuting ...

(born 1954), American actor * Keena Turner (born 1958), American football player * Kenneth Turner (1928–2018), Australian political historian * B. Kevin Turner (born 1965), business executive * Kobie Turner (born 1999), American football player *

Lacey Turner Lacey Amelia Turner (born 28 March 1988) is an English actress. She gained prominence in the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' for her portrayal of Stacey Slater, a role she initially played between 2004 and 2010 before returning in 2014 an ...

(born 1988), English actor *

Lana Turner Julia Jean "Lana" Turner ( ; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. ...

(1921–1995), American actor * Landon Turner (born 1993), American football player * Landon Turner (basketball) (born 1960), American basketball player *

Lavinia Turner Lavinia Turner ( – after 1937) was an American classic female blues singer. Originally a vaudeville vocalist, Turner recorded 10 songs in 1921 and 1922, making her one of the first female blues singers to be recorded. Details of her life outs ...

(c. 1888–after 1937), American classic female blues singer * Len Turner, American television journalist *

Lesley Turner Bowrey Lesley Rosemary Turner Bowrey, AM (née Turner; born 16 August 1942) is a retired professional tennis player from Australia. Her career spanned two decades from the late 1950s until the late 1970s. Turner Bowrey won the singles title at the F ...

(born 1942), Australian tennis player * Lizabeth A. Turner (1829–1907), National President, Woman's Relief Corps * Loyce W. Turner (1927–2021), American politician and veterinarian * Lynn Turner (murderer) (born 1968) * Malik Turner (born 1996), American football player * Margery J. Turner, American dancer and author * Mauree Turner, American politician * Mildred Cozzens Turner (1897–1992) American artist, composer and singer * Myra Brooks Turner (1936–2017), American composer *

Nat Turner Nat Turner (October 2, 1800 – November 11, 1831) was an enslaved Black carpenter and preacher who led a four-day rebellion of both enslaved and free Black people in Southampton County, Virginia in August 1831. Nat Turner's Rebellion res ...

(1800–1831), leader of a slave rebellion * Natalie Turner, Canadian animator * Nolan Turner (born 1997), American football player * Norv Turner (born 1952), American football coach *

Othar Turner Othar "Otha" Turner (June 2, 1907 – February 27, 2003) was one of the last well-known fife players in the vanishing American fife and drum blues tradition. His music was also part of the African-American genre known as Hill country blues. Ea ...

(1907–2003), American fife player and blues musician * Pamela Rogers Turner (born 1977), American teacher convicted as a sex offender * Payton Turner (born 1999), American football player * Pearl Turner, American female child who has been missing since 1923 * Percy Turner, English footballer * Ralph Lilley Turner (1888–1983), English Indian languages philologist and linguist * Randy Turner (1949–2005), American artist and singer for the band Big Boys * Rahshon Turner (born 1975), American basketball player * Richmond K. Turner (1885–1961), American naval officer in World War II * Robin Turner (born 1976), New Zealand professor of biostatistics *

Rodney Turner John Rodney Turner (born 21 January 1953)Ronald William Turner, English military officer * Roy J. Turner (1894–1973), American politician * Scott Turner (born 1982), American football coach *

Sharon Turner Sharon Turner (24 September 1768 – 13 February 1847) was an English historian. Life Turner was born in Pentonville, the eldest son of William and Ann Turner of Yorkshire, who had settled in London upon marrying. He left school at fifteen to ...

(1768–1847), English historian * Sheadrick Turner (1869–1927), American lawyer and politician * Shemar Turner (born 2003), American football player * Sherri Turner (born 1956), American LPGA golfer * Shirley Turner, American politician * Shirley Turner (1961–2003), perpetrator of the

murder of Zachary Turner Zachary Andrew Turner (18 July 2002 – 18 August 2003) was a Canadian child from St. John's, Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, who was killed by his mother, Shirley Jane Turner, in a murder–suicide. At the time, Shirley ...

and his father * Sonny Turner (1939–2022), American singer *

Sophie Turner Sophie Belinda Turner (born 21 February 1996) is an English actress. She made her acting debut as Sansa Stark in the HBO epic fantasy television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which she received an Emmy Award nomination for Out ...

(born 1996), English actress * Stansfield Turner (1923–2018), director of the U.S. CIA * Stuart Turner, British pump designer * Sukhi Turner (born 1952), New Zealand politician, born in India * Sylvester Turner (1954–2025), Mayor of Houston, Texas * T. J. Turner (end), American football player * T. J. Turner (linebacker), American football player *

Ted Turner Robert Edward Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American entrepreneur, television producer, media proprietor, and Philanthropy, philanthropist. He founded the CNN, Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour United States cable news, ...

(born 1938), American media mogul *

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

(1939–2023), American singer * Titus Turner (1933–1984), American R&B and East Coast blues singer and songwriter *

Trea Turner Trea Vance Turner (born June 30, 1993) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. At the internation ...

(born 1993), American professional baseball player *

Victor Turner Victor Witter Turner (28 May 1920 – 18 December 1983) was a British cultural anthropologist best known for his work on symbols, rituals, and rite of passage, rites of passage. His work, along with that of Clifford Geertz and others, is often ...

(1920–1983), Scottish anthropologist * Walter J. Turner (1884–1947), Australian poet * Yaakov Turner (1935–2024), mayor of Beersheba and a brigadier general in the Israeli Air Force * Zachary Turner (2002–2003), baby drowned by his mother in Canadian murder/suicide * Zeke Turner (born 1996), American football player

Fictional characters

* Alan Turner (''Emmerdale''), played by Richard Thorp on ''Emmerdale'' *Chris Turner, a character in the 1993 TV series ''

Journey to the Center of the Earth ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (), also translated with the variant titles ''A Journey to the Centre of the Earth'' and ''A Journey into the Interior of the Earth'', is a classic science fiction novel written by French novelist Jules Ve ...

'' * Cole Turner, character in ''Charmed'' played by Julian McMahon *

Darnell Turner The American sitcom television series ''My Name Is Earl'', created by Greg Garcia (producer), Greg Garcia for NBC, features a variety of characters, most of whom live in the fictional town of Camden and Camden County. The show centers on Earl Hi ...

, character played by Eddie Steeples in ''My Name Is Earl'' * Dave Turner, character in ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' * Griffin Turner, a character in ''Ninjago'' *Gus Turner, in the TV series

Robotboy ''Robotboy'' is an animated television series that aired from 1 November 2005 to 27 September 2008 on Cartoon Network (British and Irish TV channel), Cartoon Network in the UK. In the United States, it aired on Cartoon Network, premiering on 14 ...

* Heidi Turner, minor character in ''

South Park ''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boysStan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand the ...

'' animated TV series * Naomi Turner from Elena of Avalor * Owen Turner, character in ''EastEnders'' *Scott Turner, a character from the 1989 film '' Turner and Hooch'' * Terence Turner, son of Alan Turner in ''Emmerdale'', played by Stephen Marchant and then Nick Brimble * Timmy Turner, main character on the Nickelodeon animated TV series ''The Fairly OddParents'' ** Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Timmy's dumb, idiotic parents **Vivian "Viv" Turner, Timmy's 13-year-old cousin and main character from '' The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder'' **Ty Turner, Viv's father as well as Timmy's Uncle also from Fairly Odder * Vernon Turner, character in the Fox television series ''

Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...

'', played by

Malik Yoba Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba (born September 17, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for his starring role as New York City Police Department, NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox police drama ''New York Undercover' ...

* Violet Turner, a character in '' Private Practice'' *

Will Turner William Turner Jr. is a fictional character in the ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' films. He appears in '' The Curse of the Black Pearl'' (2003), '' Dead Man's Chest'' (2006), '' At World's End'' (2007), and '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (2017). He ...

, fictional character, and one of the protagonists, in the '' Pirates of the Caribbean'' franchise ** Bootstrap Bill Turner, Will's twice cursed pirate father ** Henry Turner, Will Turner's and

Elizabeth Swann Elizabeth Swann is a fictional character in the ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' film series. She appears in '' The Curse of the Black Pearl'' (2003), '' Dead Man's Chest'' (2006), '' At World's End'' (2007) and '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (2017). S ...

's son *Sean and Dorothy Turner, main characters on Apple's 2019 show ''

Servant A domestic worker is a person who works within a residence and performs a variety of household services for an individual, from providing cleaning and household maintenance, or cooking, laundry and ironing, or care for children and elderly ...

'' *Jeanette Turner, main character on Freeform's recent miniseries '' Cruel Summer''. Her parents are Gregory and Cindy, her elder brother is Derek.

References

{{surname, Turner English-language surnames Norman-language surnames Occupational surnames English-language occupational surnames

List of people with surname Turner

Common combinations of given name and surname "Turner"

Less common first names

Fictional characters

See also

References