Tresler

This is a very confusing surname, for which there may be several possible origins. We believe that on balance this surname is job descriptive, and if so of Olde English pre 7th century origins. As such it may derive from the word 'trus', used to describe brushwood, and therefore the surname describes either one who collected such material, or who may have lived by such a place. However we have to say that this prognosis is based upon flimsy evidence. A second possible origin is from the early German 'Tressler', a word for a civil official, or even the town mayor. However we have no evidence of this surname being introduced into England, although it is possible that it arrived either as an early Huguenot (protestant refugee) perhaps in the 15th century, or earlier in the time of the Flemish weavers. What is certain is that the surname as Trasler, Trassler, Tresler or Tressler, has been reasonably well recorded at least in London, from the 16th century. Recordings taken at random from early church registers include the first named (see below), who married one William Rowlinson, Thomas Trasler, the son of Thomas and Francis Trasler, christened at St Mary Abchurch, London, on November 9th 1656, and Mary Trassler, daughter of Richard and Mary, christened at St James church, Clerkenwell, on December 14th 1657. Both these recordings occurred during the 'reign' of Oliver Cromwell, and the ill fated Commonwealth (1649 - 1660). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Tresler, which was dated April 29th 1642, married at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, during the reign of King Charles 1st, known as 'The Martyr', 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.