Lanier, Nicolas I (†1612), came to London from Rouen together with John I (†1572), probably his brother; both became musicians at the court of Queen Elizabeth (Nicolas serving as a flutist from 1561). Lanier had six sons: Alfonso (†1613) and Andrea (†1660), both played wind instruments; John II (†1616) and Clement (†1661), who were royal pipers; Innocent (†1625), a flutist from 1593; and Jerome (†1657), a flutist and cornettist. In the next generation, several became royal musicians: William (1618–ca. 1660), son of Jerome; Thomas (1633–ca. 1686), son of Andrea; Henry (†1633), son of Alfonso; and the most prominent – sons of John II: John III (†1650), a tenor, lutenist, and composer who sang at the royal court from 1625 to 1642, and Nicolas II.
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Lanier, Laneare, Lanyere, Laneer, Laneir, a French-origin family of musicians active at the royal court in London from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.
