Chandler, and its variant spellings, is a family name that originated as an occupational surname in medieval England.
It applied to a person involved in making or selling candles and similar articles.
The earliest records as a surname are attested in Anglo-Norman by Matthew le Candeler in London in 1274 and William le Chandeler in Essex in 1275.
[1] It corresponds to the Norman-Picard and (northern) French surnames Candelier, Chandelier and Lechandelier "candle maker".
[2] As of 2010, Chandler ranked as the 404th most popular surname in the United States, with 79,186 citizens.