Teller

Occupational

Meaning

One who tells or relates stories; alternatively, a plate or dish maker.

Etymology

From the German word 'teller' meaning 'plate' or 'dish,' suggesting an occupational origin for a pottery maker or seller. The surname may also derive from 'erzähler' (storyteller) in some cases.

About the Teller Surname

A German and Yiddish surname with occupational roots relating to either pottery or storytelling. The name has notable bearers in science and the arts.

Distribution & Frequency

Estimated 15,000 bearers in the United States #908 most common surname
Rare Common

Found throughout German-speaking regions and among Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Teller Surname Distribution

Geographic distribution based on Civil War military records.

Fewer
More

Notable Bearers

People with the Teller Surname