Bender surname meaning

Bender is chiefly a German occupational surname for a cooper, a short form of Fassbender (barrel-binder). Bainter and Painter can be Americanized cognates of the same trade name. English Bender, especially in London, is a separate occupational name for an archer or bow-maker from Middle English bender, “one who bends.” Hungarian Bender is a curly-hair nickname, and Jewish Bender may be habitational from Bendery (Moldova). Occupation is high confidence for the German cooper and English archer leads that DAFN lists first; the rarer nickname and place senses are secondary.