A surname of French origin, also used as a given name. Historically an occupational name for someone who worked with wool.
From Old French 'lanier,' meaning 'wool worker' or 'one who deals in wool,' derived from 'laine' meaning wool. The name spread through medieval Europe with the wool trade and later became established in English-speaking countries.
The surname Lanier connects directly to medieval Europe's most important industry - the wool trade that built fortunes, funded cathedrals, and shaped entire economies from England to Flanders, making wool workers essential members of society.
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