The best-known early group of Buckners inhabited Berkshire, England in the vicinity of Oxford in the 13th, 14, 16th, and 17th centuries (specifically Botley and Cumnor which lie just across the Thames from the city of Oxford). Curiously, 15th century records are so far lacking. The primary sources dealing with them as usual consist of wills and certain parish records, but, due to their connections with the University, certain other sources are available. My personal belief is that the Thomas Buckner and William Buckner mentioned in the Matriculation and Degree records probably belong to the Buckners of London (I suspect both sons of Thomas Buckner of London) rather than the ones in Berkshire, though these two branches are most likely in fact related anyway.
Transcriptions of a few of the more interesting items:
Berkshire sources have been fairly well tapped by Buckner researchers, but there are apparently a number of Oxfordshire sources which have been neglected. A history of Oxfordshire in passing mentions a Thomas Buckner who was a tenant of Bolshipton Manor in St. Clements (just to the east of Medieval Oxford) in 1596. From the date, I suspect this is either Thomas Buckner (Jr.) of Whitley, Berks. or his cousin Thomas Buckner, the son of William Buckner of Berks., of whom little is known. There was also a Christopher Buckner of Wooten Hundred who died in 1591 leaving a will, along with 87 sheep. See _The Victoria History of the County of Oxford_, L. Salzman, ed., Oxford University Press: London, 1907-.
Going back a bit earlier to March of 1540, we find among the papers of
Henry VIII a grant of numerous farms (messuages) to Sir John Williams,
master or keeper of the Jewels. Among those in Berks., recently
confiscated from the monastery of Abendon during Henry's fervent
anti-monastic campaign, was one in Botley called Colys in the tenure of Wm.
Bucknour. See Great Britain, Public Record Office, _Letters and Papers,
Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII_, Kraus Reprint: Vaduz,
1965. v. ? p. 169.