Surname Teller - Meaning and Origin
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Teller: What does the surname Teller mean?
The last name Teller is of German origin, and it is associated most often with the occupational surname 'teller', meaning cashier or banker. Historically, individuals who had this surname would have been employed as a teller in a bank, counting coins and bills, or as a record keeper in a financial institution. In terms of its literal meaning, the word 'teller' translates to 'to tell', which implies that these individuals would have been involved in helping to communicate information regarding finances.
In its Germanic tradition, the surname Teller also implies strength and protection. This could refer to the notion that a teller in a bank would have knowledge of a great deal of information that could potentially be used to protect his or her clients in the form of financial advice, as well as providing a form of security by monitoring and controlling the movement of money.
The surname Teller has also been linked to English, Dutch, and Jewish families. Interestingly, within the Jewish faith, 'Teller' is a form of the surname 'Teler', which was derived from 'toler', the Hebrew word for melon. This symbolic meaning of the melon could be interpreted as a reminder to keep one’s financial goals for the future in mind.
Overall, the surname Teller is thought to refer to an individual with a commitment to their duty—an individual who understands their responsibility to the financial health of their client, as well as the overall protection and preservation of funds and resources.
Order DNA origin analysisTeller: Where does the name Teller come from?
The last name Teller is most commonly associated with Jewish ancestry, primarily stemming from Central and Eastern Europe. It is therefore no surprise that the surname is particularly common in countries with a high concentration of Jewish populations, such as Israel and the United States.
In the US, the name Teller is found most heavily among those of Ashkenazi Jewish background. The 2010 US Census lists the majority of those using this name as living in New York, California, Florida, and New Jersey. It is also found in substantial numbers in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Texas. Notably, it appears most commonly in larger cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Data from the Israeli Ministry of the Interior also spotlights the name as particularly popular in Israel. For the country as a whole, it ascends to the list of top 300 surnames, but is considerably more common in Jerusalem, where it rises to the list of top 50 names.
Outside of these regions, the name Teller is still present but much less common. It is found in smaller pockets in Western Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, as well as in areas of the former Soviet Union, such as Belarus and Russia.
The last name Teller can therefore be seen as particularly concentrated in areas with established Jewish populations, primarily in the United States, Israel, and Eastern and Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Teller
The surname Teller is likely of German origin and denotes someone who held the profession of a teller or money changer during the Middle Ages. Variants of this name include Tellur, Teeger and Teiger. Alternate spellings and variants include Tellar, Taller, Tyler or Tiler.
The Tellur spelling has a variety of variations, including Tilzer, Tooler and Tuller, among others. Additionally, due to the prevalence of Galician and other Eastern European languages in some areas, some Teller families may have been known by the variant spelling Tolar, Tolor or Tolson.
Within German history, the further variants related to the surname Teller include Teuling, Teul and Teugler. Another notable variant, Talleru, is thought to be derived from the Old German “Tala”, meaning “weight” or “quantity”, so this surname likely would have referred to someone who worked in a trade or service involving measurements.
Other surnames with a similar origin to Teller include Tillman, Telschow, Tellack, Telle, Tellner, Tellkamp and Tiell. Closely related surnames include Tillotsen, Tillotson and Thill, as well as Teel, thill, Teichelman and Teichman.
There are many surnames with similar origins that may have become changed and altered over the centuries. In some instances, the original spelling and meaning of a surname were already forgotten when the name was adopted by a later generation. Therefore, it is important to note that there could be other variants of Teller than the ones listed here.
Famous people with the name Teller
- Eugene Teller: a Russian-born American advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples in the United States.
- Raymond Teller: one half of the comedy and magic duo "Penn & Teller".
- Udi Teller: an Israeli-American entrepreneur and investor.
- Wolfgang Teller: a German American physicist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Paul Teller: the Chief of Staff to the United States Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
- Magnus Törnkvist: a Swedish actor, comedian, and musician.
- Jane Teller: a Pharmacist and a former member of the Montana House of Representatives.
- Max Teller: a German psychologist and World War I veteran.
- Laura Teller: an American actress and singer.
- Dr. William Teller: an American physician and Space Shuttle astronaut.