Kerner is an occupational surname of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. There are various possible derivations, including as a name for a farmer or a nickname for a small person, from a Middle High German kerne ("kernel seed pip"); German Kern or Yiddish kern (grain), among others. Middle English kerner is a variant of cherner ("churner; one who churns butter").[1] It may also derive from "carter" or "carrier", from the German word kerenere. The name was found in Bavaria, Germany, in the medieval period.[2]

People with the surname include:

Literature

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Politics

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  • Johann Georg Kerner (1770–1812), political journalist, critical chronicler of the French revolution, brother of Justinus Kerner
  • Otto Kerner, Jr. (1908–1976), Illinois Governor and judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • Otto Kerner, Sr. (1884–1952), an Illinois Attorney General and judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Entertainment and media

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  • Debby Kerner, American singer
  • Nena (Gabriele Susanne Kerner; born 1960), German singer who became famous with the New German Wave songs "Nur geträumt" and "99 Luftballons"
  • Jordan Kerner, film producer
  • Johannes B. Kerner, (born 1964), German television broadcaster

Sports

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Science and mathematics

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Other fields

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References

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  1. ^ "Kerner Name Meaning & Kerner Family History". Ancestry. 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024. Source: Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, 2022
  2. ^ "Kerner Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". HouseOfNames. Retrieved 26 April 2024.