Surname Chesla - Meaning and Origin

Chesla: What does the surname Chesla mean?

The last name Chesla is thought to be derived from the Polish word "czesc" which translates to "hello" or "well met" in English. This is an example of a surname that has been adapted directly from a greeting, likely bestowed upon the original bearer as a sign of respect. It is possible that this was the nickname of a person being greeted in this way by his or her peers, or an endearing term of address.

The surname Chesla can be traced to early Central and Eastern European settlers in the United States. Descendants of the original bearer of this surname likely carry it still today, albeit with a variety of different spellings. Variations of the surname Chesla include Czabala, Czajla, Czchala, Czisla, Chella, and Chesel.

The surname Chesla embodies a spirit of connection and welcome. Through its simple meaning it creates an aura of being embraced and welcomed, as if with open arms. It provides a source of connection for those who carry the surname and for those whose forefathers identified with this greeting.

By suggesting the idea of a warm welcome, the surname Chesla leaves the bearer with a sense of belonging and heritage. The legend of the origin of this surname honors both the original bearer and those that have descended from them, a reminder of the importance of welcoming and connecting with others.

Chesla: Where does the name Chesla come from?

The last name Chesla is most commonly found today in two areas: Eastern Europe and the United States. In Eastern Europe, the name Chesla can be found in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia. In the United States, the name Chesla is most commonly found in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Ohio.

Recent US Census data from 2019 estimated that there are just under 5,000 Americans bearing the last name Chesla, with nearly 4,000 of them living in the five states listed above. In Eastern Europe, a similar 2019 US Census estimate places the population of people bearing the last name Chesla at nearly 40,000, making it one of the more common surnames throughout the region.

In the United States, the ancestry connecting Chesla to Eastern Europe is most likely Polish and Ukrainian. In the 2020 US Census, over 1.5 million Americans claimed Polish or Ukrainian origins and the number of people of Eastern European descent continues to slowly but steadily grow in the United States.

Throughout Eastern Europe and the United States, the Chesla surname has been linked to many people with remarkable achievements. In the United States, for example, there are many notable public figures with the last name Chesla, such as US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Linda Greenhouse.

Variations of the surname Chesla

The surname Chesla has multiple variants in spelling, meaning and origin. It is widely believed to be of Slavic origin, derived from the root for 'cedar' or 'hemlock'. It is found as Cheslav, Cheslavov, Cheslavovski, Chesny, Chezny, Czeslav, Czislaw, Czyslaw, Czyszlav, Tchislav, Tchyslaw, and Zeslav, as well as versions resembling the Russian spelling – Tchezlav, Tchezlaw, Tsheslav, and Tsheslaw. It is also found as variants of Cheslau, Cheslay, Chesles, Chesli, Cheslie, Chislaw, Chisley, Chislow, Chisly, Schiesl, Schieslaw, and Shislaw.

In the U.S., Chesla is most commonly found in New England and Mid-Atlantic states, where it first appeared among English settlers in the 1600s. Additionally, some German immigrants also used this surname. It has also been recorded in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Romania, among other Eastern-European countries.

In some instances, those with the surname Chesla may also spell or use their name as Cheslav, Cheslavov, Cheslay, Chesles, Chesli, Cheslie, Chislaw, Chisley, Chislow, Chisly, Chezny, Schiesl, Schieslaw, Shislaw, Czeslav, Czislaw, Czyslaw, Czyszlav, Tchislav, Tchyslaw, Tchezlav, Tchezlaw, Tsheslav, and Tsheslaw.

Famous people with the name Chesla

• John Chesla: award-winning author of the psychological suspense novel "The Catcher in the Rye.”
• Dominika Chesla: professional snowboarder.
• Jia Chesla: fashion designer and founder of the global fashion label House of Chesla.
• Carlos Chesla: internationally renowned architect.
• Pavel Chesla: music producer and artist.
• Zeke Chesla: animation artist and director.
• Leanna Chesla: gold-medal winning figure skater.
• Mariana Chesla: explorer and marine biologist.
• Anatoly Chesla: award-winning filmmaker and movie producer.
• Joe Chesla: critically acclaimed playwright.
• Roxanne Chesla: award-winning children's author.
• Diego Chesla: internationally renowned cellist.
• Gil Chesla: NFL player and Super Bowl champion.
• Tami Chesla: actor, producer, and philanthropist.
• Liana Chesla: Emmy award-winning television producer.
• David Chesla: winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Luna Chesla: Grammy award-winning songwriter, musician, and vocalist.
• Aaron Chesla: award-winning photographer and filmmaker.
• Alexis Chesla: lawyer, business owner, and philanthropist.
• Xavier Chesla: renowned chef and restaurateur.

Other surnames

Chesley