Varner
Varner is usually an English-language surname that likely began as a spelling variant of Verner, itself often tied to the personal name Werner or a related French form.
The #1,997 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,076 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Varner is best understood as a variant spelling of Verner, a surname that can reflect the old Germanic given name Werner. That personal name is usually explained from elements meaning something like “army” and “man,” though some surname lines may also have been influenced by French forms such as Vernier or other local spellings. Because the available historical excerpt only shows Varner alongside a cluster of Ver- names, the exact route for any one family line is not certain.
History
In English-speaking countries, Varner appears as one of several spellings that developed from the same broad pool of Verner/Werner forms. Many bearers in the United States likely descend from immigrant families whose surnames were simplified or reshaped in clerical records over time. The name is not rare in America today, but it remains much less common than major surnames like Warner or Werner.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Varner is one of those surnames where a single missing or altered letter can hide a long trail of medieval spelling variation.
From the historical record
“Verneau, Vernel. Petit aulne. Verner. F. de Varner. Verneret. Dur. de Vernier. Vernes, Vernet.Vemeuil, Ver- ney, Vernhes, Vernhier, Vern-”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)