Feller
A surname that can come from the German word for a furrier or skin-worker, though some bearers may simply be linked to the surname Fell.
The #4,963 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 43,577 Americans shares it.
Etymology
In German, Feller is commonly explained as a metonymic occupational name connected with 'Fell,' meaning 'hide' or 'fur'—in effect, someone who worked with skins or furs. Some English-language surname lists also connect Feller with Fell, a name that could refer to a hill or rough upland, so the surname may have more than one independent origin. Because of that, the name is best treated as a cross-cultural surname with a few possible roots rather than a single fixed derivation.
History
The name appears in German and German-American contexts, where it is often associated with trades involving leather, fur, or hides. In English-speaking records, Feller may also occur as a variant or derivative of Fell, which broadens its history beyond one family line. The surname is relatively uncommon in the United States but is established enough to have several thousand bearers.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older surname dictionaries list Feller among names that can be confused with or grouped near Fell, making it a good example of how one spelling can hide more than one family origin.
From the historical record
“Ill: Kirby-.Qont,p. >». >S3B~9' Harried— Feller Skreren and Alya Linglee : Si. Dionla Backcharek, i.^i. William Price and Dorothy Luigley,in^3&Rif : Mairiage Lic.(LondooJ,”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances