Van Kessel is a Dutch toponymic surname meaning "from/of Kessel".
There are two towns Kessel in Belgium, two in The Netherlands, and one just across the border in Germany.
It could also refer to the medieval County of Kessel [de; nl] with Kessel (Limburg) as its capital, or the extended Ambacht of Kessel [de; nl] that existed until 1675.
[1] Notable people with the surname include: