This interesting name is of German-Polish origins although, it is of Russian etymology. It derives from "Ciesla" meaning "a Carpenter" plus "Ak", to create the patronymic "son of". The name recordings appear to occur only in Germany, and therefore it would seem that the spelling is a localised variant from the eastern areas of the country. The parts under continuous dispute between Poland and Germany even now, after the collapse of the Iron Curtain (1989 - 1990). The name recordings include Johann Ciepluch who married Elizabeth Gerhard on November 7th 1817 at Marggrabowa, Ostpreusen, Germany. Other spellings of the name include Cieslik, Tesarik and Tesarek, the latter two being Czechoslovakian. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johann Ciepluch, which was dated January 24th 1768, married Maria Salamon at Sensburg, Prussia, during the reign of Emperor Joseph 11 of the Holy Roman Emperor, 1765 - 1790. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.