Schreiner
A German occupational surname for a carpenter or cabinetmaker.
The #4,359 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,874 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Schreiner comes from German Schreiner, a word for a woodworker, cabinetmaker, or joiner. It is ultimately related to the idea of making or fitting wooden structures and furniture, and is closely connected in sense to surnames like Schreiber and Schröder in older German naming traditions. In some regions and older sources it could be used broadly for a skilled carpenter or artisan working in wood.
History
The surname is especially common in German-speaking areas and was carried by emigrants to North America and elsewhere, where it often kept its original spelling. Historical surname writers also note simplified or anglicized forms such as Shriner. Because occupational surnames were often adopted independently by different families, the name does not point to a single ancestral line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname literature sometimes glosses it alongside other craft names, showing how closely German surnames were tied to everyday trades.
From the historical record
“Schreiber. Kerivain (Alleni.). Schreiner. Menuificr (Allem.). Schroder, Schrœder, Schroer. Tailleur ( Alleiii. ;.”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)