Lanning is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of American origin, derived from the occupational surname that denotes someone who worked at a mill or farm. The name is believed to have been brought over by English settlers during colonial times and has since become a unique choice for parents seeking a rare yet meaningful name for their child. It is composed of two elements: "land" meaning 'earth' or 'ground', and "-ing", which denotes occupation or association with something. Thus, Lanning could be interpreted as 'one who works on the land'.
"The name Lanning was quite popular between 1940 and 1950, with a total of 18 babies named Lanning during this period. However, the popularity seemed to fluctuate year by year, peaking at 7 births in 1940 and then dropping to 6 in 1947 before rising slightly again to 5 in 1950."