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

Keslar, 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 Keslar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keslar in America

Keslar is the 36246th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keslar surname appeared 618 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Keslar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keslar 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 Keslar

The surname Keslar is believed to have originated in Germany, though its precise roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Some scholars suggest that it may have derived from the Old German word "kessel," which means "cauldron" or "kettle," indicating that the name's earliest bearers may have been involved in metalwork or the manufacturing of such vessels.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Keslar began appearing in various records and documents across Central Europe, particularly in areas like Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of medieval charters and diplomatic documents from Anhalt, which mentions a certain "Johannes Keslarius" in 1298.

As time progressed, the name Keslar evolved into various spellings, such as Kessler, Keßler, and Kesseler, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional dialects. It's worth noting that several place names in Germany, like Kesseling and Kesselstadt, share a similar root, lending further credence to the name's geographical origins.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Keslar, one can mention Johann Keslar (1535-1602), a German theologian and Protestant reformer who played a significant role in the Reformation movement in Saxony. Another prominent individual was Christoph Keslar (1618-1679), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of the fugue form.

In the realm of literature, the name Keslar appears in the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the renowned German writer and statesman. In his novel "Elective Affinities," published in 1809, one of the characters is named Keslar, though little is known about the inspiration behind this choice.

Crossing the Atlantic, the name Keslar also found its way to the United States, with records indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname as early as the 18th century. One notable figure was Josiah Keslar (1797-1878), a farmer and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the state's House of Representatives in the 1840s.

While the surname Keslar may not be among the most prevalent worldwide, its rich history and potential connections to various trades and professions make it a fascinating subject for further exploration in the field of onomatology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keslar

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

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 Keslar 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 Keslar 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 Keslar was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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