Turner Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Turner originates from Middle English and refers to a person who turns or shapes materials. It evolved from Old French and has been in use since the Middle Ages. The name signifies craftsmanship and has no biblical relevance. Today, it is associated with notable artists and performers, reflecting a positive and creative image.
The name Turner is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Turner has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Turner' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 788th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1121st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1411th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2476th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1219th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 961st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 965th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8441st out of 9107 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14555th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11868th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6670th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Turner' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Turner"
Pronunciation
/ˈtɜrnər/
Origin
Middle English
Etymology
The name Turner is derived from the Middle English word 'turner,' which refers to a person who works with a lathe to shape wood or metal.
Meaning
one who turns
Language Evolution
Old French: tourner, Middle English: turner, Modern English: Turner
Historical Usage
The surname Turner has been in use since the Middle Ages, becoming more common as a surname in England during the 13th century due to the rise of occupational surnames.
Variants & Derivatives
Turner, Tuner, Turn, Tournier
Modern Popularity & Image
Turner is a well-recognized surname and is often associated with craftsmanship and artistry. It has a positive connotation in contemporary society.
Famous People
J.M.W. Turner - Renowned British painter, Turner Classic Movies - Famous movie channel, Tina Turner - Iconic singer and actress
Explore More Turner Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Turner"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Turner"
"Turner" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 788th of 7545 | 1,153 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1121st of 6773 | 664 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1411th of 7552 | 578 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2476th of 10718 | 246 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1219th of 16616 | 1,180 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 961st of 24088 | 2,969 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 965th of 23106 | 2,668 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8441st of 9107 | 7 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14555th of 27321 | 43 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11868th of 35406 | 120 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6670th of 30306 | 214 |
Regional Popularity of "Turner" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
24.09% 570th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
37.23% 876th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
45.22% 1290th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
31.64% 1166th/3685 |
- |
22.01% 1143rd/5194 |
29.65% 1873rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.45% 937th/4582 |
35.98% 1858th/5164 |
10.79% 789th/7313 |
17.92% 1337th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.85% 990th/3984 |
47.43% 2128th/4487 |
11.70% 798th/6822 |
18.90% 1186th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Turner" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Turner"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Turner" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.