Show ContentsShandler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Shandler comes from when its first bearer worked as a person who makes and sells candles. More rarely, the surname Shandler may have been applied to someone who had the responsibility of lighting the candles in a large house or someone who owed rent in the form of wax or candles. The surname Shandler is derived from the Old English words chaundeler and chandeler, which in turn come from the Old French word chandelier. This is derived from the late Latin word candelarius, which comes from the word candela, which means candle. This Latin word comes from the word candere, which means to be bright. 1

Early Origins of the Shandler family

The surname Shandler was first found in Yorkshire where the first record was that of the occupation: Nicholas de Malton, candelery 7 Edward II (Freemen of York.) Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Matilda Candeler. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Reginald le Chandeler, London; and William Candelarius, Leicestershire. 2

Another source notes that Matthew le Candeler from London, was also listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 and that William le Chandeler was found in the Assize Rolls for Essex in 1285. 3

Early History of the Shandler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shandler research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1274, 1296, 1330, 1548, 1566, 1567, 1668, 1687, 1693, 1697, 1701, 1703, 1717, 1737, 1739, 1744, 1745, 1750, 1766, 1783, 1786, 1787, 1791, 1800, 1804, 1820, 1856, 1859, 1860, 1875 and 1881 are included under the topic Early Shandler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shandler Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Shandler include Chandler, Chandlers, Channdler, Channdlers, Candler, Chaundler and many more.

Early Notables of the Shandler family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Edward Chandler (1668?-1750), Bishop of Durham, son of Samuel Chandler of Dublin. "He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and in 1693 became M.A., was ordained priest, and appointed chaplain to Lloyd, bishop of Winchester. In 1697 he became prebendary of Lichfield; became D.D. in 1701, and in 1703 received the stall in Salisbury vacant by the death...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shandler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Shandler migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Shandler or a variant listed above:

Shandler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Shandler, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 4


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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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