Larney

The surname Larney has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "larniere," which referred to a lath or wooden plank used in roofing construction. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for a lath-maker or roofer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where a person named William Larnere is mentioned. The spelling variations during this time included Larner, Larnere, and Larnour.

In the 14th century, the name began to spread across different regions of England, with records showing individuals named Larney or variations thereof in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for Oxfordshire list a John Larnere, while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 include a Thomas Larnour.

The Larney surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Larnach in Derbyshire and Larnick in Cornwall. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

One notable historical figure with the surname Larney was Sir Thomas Larney (c. 1515-1594), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1569-1570. He was also a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers and played a significant role in expanding England's trade with the Netherlands.

Another prominent individual was John Larney (1693-1765), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Radcliffe Library at the University of Oxford.

In the 18th century, the Larney surname gained recognition through the work of Thomas Larney (1758-1832), an English engraver and painter who specialized in mezzotint portraits and landscapes.

The 19th century saw the emergence of William Larney (1823-1891), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions and documented his experiences in published works such as "The Discovery of the North Pole" (1856).

Finally, it is worth mentioning John Larney (1905-1984), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s, earning recognition as a talented all-rounder.