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About this site
Why CJ Turner?
In late 2009, many of CJ's descendants gathered at Berowra, just north of Sydney, to celebrate his Sesquicentenary (150th) Birthday. This gave me the impetus to begin this project. As CJ was instrumental in opening the area of Berowra as well as establishing businesses in the early years of the Belmore Markets in Sydney, there was considerable information available and so it seemed a great place to start our family history and a great reason to dedicate this site to him.
I have also been interested in researching my family history over the last few years, but since having connected with my cousin, John Chappell, I have gained material and information, particularly around our great grandfather CJ, that was previously unknown to me. As a result, John has been instrumental in providing much of the information contained in this site and I am indebted to him for his dedication and willingness to share our family history.
My only regret is that I did not start my research earlier as much history and information has gone with the passing of family members. While I have included a section dealing specifically with my direct family history, I hope to be able to add sections to include many of CJ's descendants. I know this will continue to be a work in progress. I hope the family information here will be an avenue for others who may have the same family line and who may be interested in sharing their stories, information and images. Additionally, information here may allow others to assist me with some of the dead-ends that I have come across.
In the event that you should find a connection in your family line and mine, please be sure to let me know. I am always happy to meet new cousins. Any suggestions for the site are always welcome. I hope your visit here is an enjoyable one.
Why CJ Turner?
In late 2009, many of CJ's descendants gathered at Berowra, just north of Sydney, to celebrate his Sesquicentenary (150th) Birthday. This gave me the impetus to begin this project. As CJ was instrumental in opening the area of Berowra as well as establishing businesses in the early years of the Belmore Markets in Sydney, there was considerable information available and so it seemed a great place to start our family history and a great reason to dedicate this site to him.
I have also been interested in researching my family history over the last few years, but since having connected with my cousin, John Chappell, I have gained material and information, particularly around our great grandfather CJ, that was previously unknown to me. As a result, John has been instrumental in providing much of the information contained in this site and I am indebted to him for his dedication and willingness to share our family history.
My only regret is that I did not start my research earlier as much history and information has gone with the passing of family members. While I have included a section dealing specifically with my direct family history, I hope to be able to add sections to include many of CJ's descendants. I know this will continue to be a work in progress. I hope the family information here will be an avenue for others who may have the same family line and who may be interested in sharing their stories, information and images. Additionally, information here may allow others to assist me with some of the dead-ends that I have come across.
In the event that you should find a connection in your family line and mine, please be sure to let me know. I am always happy to meet new cousins. Any suggestions for the site are always welcome. I hope your visit here is an enjoyable one.
A brief history of the surname "Turner"
- There are several recorded spellings of the name Turner including Turner, Turnor, Thurner, Tourner and Tournor.
- It has at least three possible origins. Firstly, it may be an occupational name for a maker of small objects of wood, metal, or bone by turning on a lather, deriving from the Anglo-Norman French word "torner". Secondly, it may be a nickname for a fast runner, from the Middle English elements "turnen" to turn, plus the fusing of "hare" a hare. Thirdly, it may be occupational for an official in charge of a tournament, deriving from the Old French word "tornei".
- The surname dates back to the late 12th Century and early recordings include Ralph le Turner (1191 - 1192) in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire, and Bernard Turnehare in the Curia Regis Rolls of Staffordshire in 1224.
- Examples from the surviving church registers of the city of London include the marriage of John Turner to Amy German on April 19th 1553, at St. Leonard's Eastcheap, and the Christening of Thomasyn Turnor, the daughter of Thomas Turnor, at the church of St Mary Aldermary, in the city of London, on November 16th 1599. The most famous bearer of the name was probably J. M. W. Turner (1775 - 1851), the English landscape painter and master of water colours.
- The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Warner le Turnur, which was dated 1180, in the "Pipe Rolls of London", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189.