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 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