Lerner (surname)

Lerner 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 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