Show ContentsDrexler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Drexler is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German "Drehseler," meaning "turner," and was most likely initially borne by a turner or lathe worker.

Early Origins of the Drexler family

The surname Drexler was first found in the region of Thuringia, where this particular variation first emerged. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Herman der Drahsil, who was living in Weingarten, a town just beyond the borders of Thuringia, in 1270. The Drexler family was an integral part of a feudal society which would shape modern European history, and played an important role in the development of German society.

Early History of the Drexler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drexler research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1367, 1414, 1591, 1782, 1800, 1807, 1810, 1812, 1815, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1844 and 1852 are included under the topic Early Drexler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drexler Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Drechsler, Drechsel, Drexler, Drexel, Drexell, Drachsler, Drachsel, Draxler, Draxel, Draxell, Dressler, Dressel, Trechsler, Trechsel, Trexler, Trexel, Trexell, Trachsler, Trachsel, Traxler, Traxel, Traxell and many more.

Early Notables of the Drexler family

Notable members of the surname Drexler in this period were Jeremias Drechselerius (b. 1591), a German ascetic Jesuit writer. Josef Drechsler was a remarkable composer and teacher, born May 26, 1782, at Vlachovo Brezí in Bohemia; received his first instruction from his father, schoolmaster in his native place. After various alternations of place and pursuit, he studied music and law at Prague; in 1807 found himself at Vienna, but it was not till 1810 that he obtained employment as chorus-master at the Court Theatre. This was followed in 1812 by a place as 'Capellmeister adjunct,' then by an organist's post; in...
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Drexler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drexler Ranking

In the United States, the name Drexler is the 11,564th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Drexler migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Drexler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Juditha Drexler, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • David Drexler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1771 2
  • Frantz Peter Drexler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772 2
Drexler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John H Drexler, who landed in Mississippi in 1848 2
  • Henry Drexler, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1869 2
  • Jos Drexler, who arrived in New York, NY in 1870 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Drexler (post 1700) +

  • Lynne Mapp Drexler (1928-1999), American abstract and representational artist
  • Doug Drexler, American Academy Award winning visual effects artist, designer, sculptor, illustrator, and a makeup artist, known for his work on Dick Tracy (1990) Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005), and Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
  • Kim Eric Drexler (b. 1955), American engineer best known for popularizing the potential of molecular nanotechnology, recipient of the Association of American Publishers award for Best Computer Science Book of 1992
  • Henry Clay Drexler (1901-1924), American Ensign in the United States Navy, recipient of both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor, eponym of the USS Drexler (DD-741), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
  • Clyde Austin "The Glide" Drexler (b. 1962), American retired professional basketball swingman, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
  • Millard "Mickey" S. Drexler (b. 1944), American current chairman and CEO of J.Crew Group, former CEO of Gap Inc
  • Walter Drexler (1916-1945), German Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Dominick Drexler (b. 1990), German footballer
  • Hilde Drexler (b. 1983), Austrian judoka at the 2012 Summer Olympics
  • Jorge Drexler (b. 1964), born Jorge Abner Drexler Prada, a Uruguayan musician, actor


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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