# Lerner (surname)

Lerner (/ˈlɜː(r)nə/ LUR-nə) is a German surname, a variant of Larner. Originating from southern Germany, it may be either a habitational name for someone from Lern, near the Bavarian town of Freising, or a nickname from Middle High German lerner, meaning "pupil" or "schoolboy". It can also be a Ashkenazic Jewish occupational name, from Yiddish lerner, meaning "Talmudic student or scholar". In England, the name is recorded from the 13th century, first found in London where they held a family seat as lords of the manor. Variations include Delawny, Delauney, De Laune, De Lune, Delaune, Delorney, and others.
Notable people with the surname Lerner include:
* Aaron Bunsen Lerner (1920–2007), American physician, researcher and professor
* Abba P. Lerner, American economist
* Adam Lerner, American museum curator
* Al Lerner, American businessman, chairman of MBNA
* Al Lerner (composer), American musician, pianist, and big band leader
* Alan Jay Lerner, American lyricist and librettist
* Alejandro Lerner, Argentine musician
* Avi Lerner, Israeli-American film producer
* Barron H. Lerner, American professor of medicine
* Ben Lerner, American poet
* César Lerner, Argentine film composer
* Claire Lerner, American non-profit director
* David Lerner (1951–1997), American poet
* Edward (Ned) Lerner, computer-game maker
* Edward M. Lerner, science-fiction writer
* Eric Lerner, American scientist and popular science author
* Gad Lerner, Italian journalist and writer
* George Lerner, American inventor of the toy Mr. Potato Head
* Gerda Lerner, Austrian-American scholar, a founder of the fields of women and African American history
* Hayyim Zvi Lerner (1815–1889), Russian grammarian of Hebrew, writer and educator
* Irving Lerner, alleged Soviet spy in the US during World War II
* I. Michael Lerner (1910–1977), Chinese-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist
* Jacqueline Lerner, American psychologist
* Jaime Lerner, architect and urban planner, Brazilian state governor
* Jennifer Lerner, American professor and experimental social psychologist
* Jimmy Lerner, American poet, novelist, and criminal
* Josh Lerner, American economist, professor at the Harvard Business School
* Ken Lerner, American actor
* Konstantin Lerner, Ukrainian chess grandmaster
* Laurence Lerner (1925–2016), South African British literary critic, poet and novelist
* Leo Lerner (1907–1965), American newspaper journalist, editor and publisher
* Lois Lerner (born 1950), American lawyer
* Mark Lerner, American businessman
* Max Lerner, American journalist and educator
* Melvin J. Lerner, American professor of social psychology
* Michael Lerner (disambiguation), multiple people
* Murray Lerner, American film director and producer
* Osip Mikhailovich Lerner (1847–1907), Russian Jewish intellectual and lawyer
* Peter Lerner, Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson
* Randy Lerner, American entrepreneur and sports team owner
* Richard Lerner, American research chemist
* Rita G. Lerner (1929–1994), American physicist and science communicator
* Robert E. Lerner, American medieval historian
* Samuel Lerner, Romanian songwriter American theater and film
* Samuel A. Lerner, co-founder of Lerner Shops, uncle of Alan Jay Lerner
* Sam Lerner, American child actor
* Sandra Lerner (born 1955), American businesswoman and philanthropist, co-founder of Cisco Systems
* Sara Hestrin-Lerner, Israeli physiologist
* Sidney Lerner, Manitoba judge
* Stephen Lerner, American labor and community organizer
* Ted Lerner (1925–2023), American real estate developer and billionaire, owner of the Washington Nationals
* Theodor Lerner, German journalist and polar explorer