Bodner Family History

German: topographic name for someone who dwelt in a valley bottom, from an agent derivative of Middle High German boden ‘floor’, ‘bottom’. North German: nickname for someone who lived in a small dwelling, from a derivative of Middle Low German bode, bude ‘booth’, ‘small house’, ‘cottage’. Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name as in 1 or an occupational name from East Yiddish bodner ‘cooper’ (from Belorussian or older Ukrainian bodnár) (see Bodnar).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press