Masler last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Masler

A surname derived from the Middle High German term "masler," meaning a painter or decorator.

Masler, 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 Masler surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Masler in America

Masler is the 123314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masler surname appeared 129 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Masler.

The history of the last name Masler

The surname "Masler" originates from Central Europe, particularly from the regions that are now part of Germany and Poland. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, with its earliest known occurrences dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word “masre” or “mazler,” which means a butcher or a meat seller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in historical documents from the Hanseatic League cities, such as Lübeck and Hamburg. These cities were central hubs for trade and commerce during the medieval period, making it plausible that individuals bearing the surname Masler were involved in trades related to butchery and meat selling.

In the 14th century, a significant mention of the surname appears in a document found in the archives of the city of Kraków, Poland. Jan Masler, a butcher by trade, is documented to have been part of the local butcher’s guild in 1375. This suggests that the surname was not only common among tradespeople but also carried some level of professional recognition.

During the Renaissance period, a family bearing the surname Masler became prominent in the Duchy of Silesia, a region now split between Poland and the Czech Republic. In 1562, Andrej Masler was documented as a landowner and a successful merchant in the town of Wrocław. His family’s affluence and social standing were well noted in local historical records.

Moving into the 17th and 18th centuries, individuals with the surname Masler continued to appear in various records across Central Europe. In 1721, Johann Masler, a notable figure from Dresden, Germany, is referenced in documents related to the city’s meat markets. Johann’s business dealings and involvement in civic matters were well recorded, marking the continued presence of the surname in professional and public spheres.

In the 19th century, the surname began to spread beyond the confines of Central Europe as individuals emigrated to other parts of the world, including the United States. One of the notable figures during this period was Samuel Masler, born in 1824, who was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in New York City. Samuel was instrumental in founding several trade associations and charities, contributing significantly to the development of the local economy.

Through these historical references, it is evident that the surname Masler has deep roots in the trades associated with butchery and meat markets. The mention of various individuals bearing the surname across different periods demonstrates its enduring legacy and the significant roles that those individuals played in their local communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masler

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Masler was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 99.22% 128
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Masler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/masler-surname-popularity/.

"Masler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/masler-surname-popularity/. Accessed 6 July, 2025

Masler last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/masler-surname-popularity/.

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