Koller
A German surname most often tied to charcoal-making, with some early sources also linking it to a collar or cowl-maker.
The #5,152 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 45,457 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Koller is usually explained as a German occupational surname. In the historical surname literature, it is most often connected with the word for a charcoal-burner, from dialectal forms related to German Kohl, meaning "coal". Some older writers also suggested links with words for a collar or hood, but those explanations are treated as secondary or exceptional.
History
The name is well attested in German-speaking areas and appears in older comparative surname lists alongside related forms such as Kohler and Kohlmann. It also spread into neighboring regions through migration and spelling variation. In some cases, especially outside German areas, Koller may have been influenced by or confused with similar-sounding surnames of different origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 1902 surname list explicitly glosses Koller as "charcoal-burner," showing that this occupational explanation was standard in scholarly reference works of the period.
From the historical record
“head) ; also a pet n. (“ my boy ”) ; S. Kull ; D. Koelle ; G. Kolia, Koller, Kolley, Kohl, Kohler ; Dch. Koll ; D.B. Col, [ Cola, Colo, Cols ; FI. Colas, Colles, Colie, Cuius ; p.n. Collyns. See Collins 'Colman. N Kalman ; A.S. Col¬”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)