<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000201461</issuerCik><issuerName>CITY NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001188837</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CAHILL MICHAEL B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP, General Counsel, Sect.</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1875</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5475</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>45.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-04</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock 1.00 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly holds 283 shares in his 401(k) plan; this is an increase of 22 shares in his plan since the last report filed.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Awarded under the City National Corporation 1995 Omnibus Plan, as amended 6/4/2003; the options are exempt under Rule 16b-3</footnote><footnote id="F3">The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on this date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael B. Cahill</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

