Find out how popular the last name Fessler is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fessler.

Fessler, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fessler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fessler in America

Fessler is the 9770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fessler surname appeared 3,316 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fessler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fessler to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fessler

The surname Fessler is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 14th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "vezzel," which referred to a small bundle or package. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the transportation or packaging of goods.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Fessler name can be found in the town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval town in Bavaria, Germany. In these records, a person named Hans Fessler is listed as a resident in the year 1387. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 14th century.

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the Fessler name appeared in various historical documents across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The spelling variations included Fesseler, Fessler, and Fessener, reflecting the differences in local dialects and scribal practices of the time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the Fessler name was Johann Michael Fessler (1638-1721), a prominent Bavarian painter known for his religious artworks. His works can be found in several churches and monasteries throughout southern Germany.

Another significant individual with this surname was Ignaz Aurel Fessler (1756-1839), a Hungarian-born historian, philosopher, and Catholic priest. He was a prolific writer and authored numerous works on history, philosophy, and theology, including a multi-volume history of Hungary.

During the 19th century, the Fessler name gained international recognition through the work of Ignaz Fessler (1827-1913), a German-American pioneer in the brewing industry. Born in Bavaria, he immigrated to the United States and established the Fessler Brewing Company in New York City, which became one of the largest breweries in the country at the time.

In the world of literature, the Austrian writer and journalist Karl Fessler (1875-1949) gained recognition for his works exploring social and political themes. He was an influential figure in the Austrian literary scene during the early 20th century.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Franz Fessler (1914-1991), a German-born American artist and sculptor. He is best known for his monumental public sculptures, which can be found in various cities across the United States, including New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fessler

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fessler.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fessler was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fessler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fessler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fessler, please contact us.

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