Fessler
A German surname that likely began as a name for someone who made or sold barrels, or as a regional occupational nickname tied to coopering work.
The #9,770 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 93,108 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Fessler is a German surname. It is most likely related to the word for a barrel or cask, pointing to someone connected with making or handling barrels, i.e. a cooper or barrel-maker. In some cases it may also reflect a regional occupational form or spelling variant built from the same trade root.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas and later appears in North America through immigration. As with many occupational surnames, spelling could vary a lot before standardization, which helps explain forms like Fessler and related variants. The surname is not among the most common German names, but it is well established in German-American family lines.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Occupational surnames were often inherited long after the original trade had been forgotten, so modern Fesslers may have no family connection to barrel-making at all.