Schreiner is an example from the large class of family names that originally derived from the occupations of the people who bore the names. It refers to a woodworker and often more specifically to a maker of fine woodwork; thus it translates to English as "joiner", "cabinetmaker", or (most broadly) "carpenter". Thus, for example, a German man of the Middle Ages named Johann Schreiner was literally "John the cabinetmaker", which differentiated him from other local men also named Johann, such as Johann Bäcker (John the baker) or Johann Weißkopf (White-haired John).
Some English spelling variations of the name are Shreiner, Schriner, and Shriner. (In the case of the Shriners organization, however, the name came from the English word shrine in the organization's full title, rather than through any founder surnamed Shriner.)
Today many people (and the businesses or institutions that they founded) are named Schreiner:
Alexander Schreiner, organist for the Mormon Tabernacle ChoirAlina Schreiner, German bodybuilderArmin Schreiner, influential Croatian industrialist, banker and Jewish activist killed during the HolocaustBernard Schreiner, French politicianBob Schreiner, Dutch paddlerDave Schreiner, American athleteDavid Schreiner, American politicianFrank Schreiner (1879–1937), American baseball playerJosef Schreiner, German athleteJumbo Schreiner (born 1967), German actorKnut Schreiner, aka Euroboy, Norwegian musicianKristian Schreiner, Norwegian physical anthropologistMike Schreiner (born 1969), Canadian politicianOlive Schreiner, South African authorOliver Schreiner, South Africa judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of South AfricaOttmar Schreiner, German politicianPer Schreiner (1932–2005), Norwegian economistPer Schreiner (playwright) (born 1965), Norwegian playwrightWilliam Philip Schreiner, South African politicianEnterprises and Institutions
Schreiner's department storeSchreiner AirwaysSchreiner UniversitySchreiner's Iris Gardens