This surname is derived from an official title. 'the lardiner,' a bacon-salter, a steward of the larder. Lard, the melted fat of swine; 'larde of flesche' (Prompt. Parv). Lardiner, the officer who superintended, as well indoors as out of doors, the supply of pigstock.

'David le Lardiner holds one serjeantry, and he is keeper of the gaol of the Forest, and Seizer of the Cattle which are taken for the King's debts': History and Ant. of the City of York, vol. iii. (York, 1785.)

'The fleshours' sale serve the burgessis all the time ... in preparing of their flesh, and in laying in of their lardner.': The Lawes and Constitutions of Burghs.

A surname derived from the occupation of lardiner, one who had charge of the larder, AF. lardiner, OF. lardier. William, son of Ralph the lardener, quitclaimed lands in Anant to Robert de Brus, 1218 (Annandale I, p. 4; Bain, I, 704). Alan le laiderer was a charter witness in 1250 (LAC., 57). Michael le Lardiner of Linlithgowshire and William le Lardyner, burgess of Stirling, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 197,198). John Lardnar was burgess of Stirling, c. 1300 (Cambus., 222), payment was made to Walter de lardario for expenses of the queen, 1328, and in 1343 herrings from Inverness were delivered to Malcolm de lardario (ER., I, p. 116,516).

(Anglo-French-Latin) Larderer; Larder-Keeper [Anglo-French lardiner: v. under Larder] Thomas le Lardiner.—Parl. Writs.

The English name Lardner is used as the anglicized form of Ó Lorgnáin in Co. Galway. SIF 105

In Ireland Lardner belongs principally to Co. Galway. where, I am informed by Mr. P. J. Kennedy, the Irish form of it is Ó Lorgnáin, a different name from Ó Loirgneáin, which is found in Co. Clare in the anglicized forms Lerhinan and Lernihan. Families of Lardner unconnected with Galway or neighbouring counties are probably of English origin: Lardner is an English name, formerly Le Lardiner, derived from lardiner, meaning a bacon salter and sometimes an overseer of pigs. Another somewhat similar name in Irish is Ó Lairgneáin which O'Donovan states is that of one of the Oriel chiefs, now extant in Ulster but rare, the modern form being Largan.

Officer in Charge of Medieval Larder.

(English) The keeper of the larder, the place where provisions were stored.

A swineherd, or rather the person who superintended the pannage of hogs in a forest. English Surn. But Kelham (Norman French Dict.) says, "the officer in the king's household who presided over the larder." Whichever alternative the etymological reader may choose, he is certain to ' save his bacon,' since the word larder, as applied to the victualling department of a house, is derived from the French lard, because bacon was the principal article therein deposited.

A swine—herd.

Lardiner: if not a fattener of hogs, is a dealer in lard and bacon.