Origin and history of Warner

Warner

surname, by late 12c. as Warnier, mid-14c., Warnyr, literally "warrener," from Middle English wareiner "keeper of a warren" (late 13c.), from Old North French warennier (Old French garenier). The keeping of warrens formerly was an important function (see warren (n.)).

As an agent-noun, warner in the sense of "one who or that which warns" is by 1560s (see warn (v.)), too late to be the source of the name. The Warner Bros. film studio was founded 1923 by Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, whose surname had been anglicized after immigration to U.S.

also from late 12c.

Entries linking to Warner

warn(v.)

Middle English warnen, from Old English warnian "give notice of impending danger," also intransitive, "take heed," from Proto-Germanic *warōnan (source also of Old Norse varna "to admonish," Old High German warnon "to take heed," German warnen "to warn"), from PIE root *wer- (4) "to cover." Related: Warned; warning.

warren(n.)

late 14c., wareine, "piece of land enclosed for breeding beasts and fowls" (late 13c. as a surname), from Anglo-French and Old North French warenne (Old French garenne) "game park, hunting reserve," which is possibly from Gaulish *varenna "enclosed area," related to *varros "post." According to Watkins more likely from the present participle of Old North French warir (Old French garir) "defend, keep," from Proto-Germanic *war- "to protect, guard," from PIE root *wer- (4) "to cover."

Later, in the Forest Laws of England, especially "piece of land set aside by royal authority for breeding of rabbits and hares" and like game (c. 1400), which led to the transferred sense of "cluster of densely populated living spaces" (1640s). Other "beasts of warren" included pheasants and partridges.

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Origin and history of Warner

Warner

Entries linking to Warner

Share Warner