Surname Tessar - Meaning and Origin
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Tessar: What does the surname Tessar mean?
The last name Tessar stems from a German word ‘Tesse’, meaning ‘four’. This last name is used to signify relation to a family of four, or to indicate residence in a place with four wells.
The use of a number in a surname is not common but not unheard of. It is mostly seen in Germanic cultures, but can also be seen in other countries.
The four in Tessar does not refer to any specific family members or things; instead, it is simply used as a reference to the novel foursome the family shared as a beginning or a way of life. This connection could go back centuries and be based on familial relationships, social class, religious or cultural practices, or any other factor that defined the family.
Tessar families would have been expected to pass down the four unity and solidarity that they experienced when the family was composed of four. This could have been an indication of loyalty and responsibility, or even a strong economic or administrative team.
The Tessar surname can manifest itself in different forms, such as Tesser, Tessed, and Tesserau. As such, it has an extensive history, and can trace its roots all the way back to early pre-war Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisTessar: Where does the name Tessar come from?
The last name Tessar is quite common today, especially in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Tessar is found the most in Germany, where it is in the top 800 most common surnames. Additionally, it is found in relatively high numbers in Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Outside of Europe, especially in diaspora communities, Tessar is much less common. Nonetheless, it is still found in places like the United States, Israel, and Canada. For example, a search of the White Pages in the United States yields results in numerous states, including California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
Given the widespread use of Tessar around the world, it’s likely that many different cultures have adopted it as a last name. Additionally, Tessar may sometimes be a variation of a more broadly used name such as Tesar, Tesser, or Tessa, which are related to it linguistically. While the origin of the surname is uncertain, it likely has roots in Slavic languages, making Central and Eastern Europe its center of use nowadays.
Variations of the surname Tessar
The surname Tessar is an uncommon surname, and its variants are spelt in various ways. It is believed to be of German origin, from the middle High German word ‘tesser’, meaning ‘four’. It can also be traced to the Old English ‘tessera’. Alternate spellings of the surname Tessar include Tessara, Tessarra, Tessarra, Tesserr, Tessler, Tessner, and Tessler.
Variants of this surname may also be recorded as Tessaro, Tessaro, Tesoro, Tezarra, Tezzaro, Tezzer, Tessor, Tezor, and Tezzer. In some cases, the ‘Tessar’ spelling can appear as ‘Tesar’, ‘Tessar’, ‘Tessur’, or ‘Tezar’.
Surnames of similar origin include Sesser, Tenner, Tiener, Toner, and Teener. These variants are all developed from the Middle High German 'tesser', which literally translates as ‘four’, indicating that they refer to a clan or family of four.
The most common variations of the surname Tessar are seen in Germany, Denmark, the United States, and other countries of Northern and Central Europe. It is also an uncommon variant of the French-Celtic ‘Tessier’, meaning ‘cloth maker’, as well as the Swiss-Italian ‘Tessaroli’.
The Tessar family name is believed to have first originated in Saxony, in what is now Germany, sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is also suggested that some branches of the Tessar family who settled in the United States may have changed the spelling of their surname to ‘Tessier’.
Famous people with the name Tessar
- Miriam Tessar-Vera: Miriam Tessar-Vera is a British diplomat and the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme.
- Justin Tessar: Justin Tessar is an American television producer from Los Angeles. He is the producer of shows such as Fox's MasterChef, The Voice, and Hell on Wheels.
- Guillermo Tessar: Guillermo Tessar is an actor and producer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is best known for his role as Facundo in the Argentinian soap opera Graduados.
- Catharina Tessar: Catharina Tessar is a Swedish operatic mezzo-soprano and occasional actress. She is best known for her work with the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Swedish Theatre.
- Ryan Tessar: Ryan Tessar is a Canadian film director and cinematographer. He is known for his work on the award-winning films Astro Boy (2009) and The Number 23 (2007).
- Joachim Tessar: Joachim Tessar is a German classical composer and musician. He has composed music for films, television series, and musicals.
- Luc Tessar: Luc Tessar is a French music producer and composer. He is best known for his contributions to the album Decembers Artists by the band Soulwax.
- Axel Tessar-Vera: Axel Tessar-Vera is a Chilean-American visual artist and author known for his works exploring and critiquing neoliberalism, cultural politics, and race and gender in Latin America.
- Cory Tessar: Cory Tessar is an American radio personality and DJ. He currently works at WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Barbara TessarActress: Barbara Tessar is an Italian actress best known for her roles in I Liceali (2009) and Il Commissario Montalbano (2011).