Jenner Family History

English: occupational name for a designer or engineer from Middle English enginour ‘engineer maker or designer of military machines’ Old French engigneor enginior (a derivative of engaigne ‘cunning ingenuity stratagem device’). Engineers in the Middle Ages were primarily designers and builders of military machines, although in peacetime they might turn their hands to architecture and other more pacific functions.

In the 12th century ingeniator was used to denote someone who combined the duties of master mason and architect. Ailnoth ingeniator, a military architect, was surveyor of the king's buildings at Westminster and the Tower in 1157, and was in charge of building operations at Windsor 1166–7. He repaired Westminster Abbey after a fire and superintended the destruction of the castles of Framlingham and Walton.

German: from the Latin personal name Januarius (see Janvier). Jänner is a South German word for ‘January,’ and so it is possible that this is one of the surnames acquired from words denoting months of the year, for example, by converts who had been baptized in that month, people who were born or baptized in that month, or people whose taxes were due in January.