This interesting surname is of Old French origin, and is from an occupational name for a maker of wooden furniture, derived from the Anglo-Norman French "joignour", from the Old French "joigneor", itself from "joinre", to join, connect, originally from the Latin "iungere". As an occupative term joiner probably came into use somewhat later than carpenter. Job descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer and later became hereditary. The medieval "Cocke Lorelle's Bote" mentions "Carpenters, coupers, and joyners". The surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below), and other early recordings include: William le Juinnur (1204, Early English Personal Names); and John le Jeynuur in the 1296 Feet of Fines of Essex. Recordings from London Church Registers include the christening of Francis, son of Anthony Joyner, on July 18th 1591 at St. Margaret Lothbury, and the marriage of Christofer Joyner and Agnes Savadge on December 4th 1598. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Joinur, which was dated 1195 - 1215, in the "Records of Pleas of London", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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