Show ContentsKeisling Surname History

Early Origins of the Keisling family

The surname Keisling was first found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Keisling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keisling research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1226, 1595, 1647, 1674, 1676, 1692, 1710, 1715, 1739, 1775, 1814 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Keisling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keisling Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Keisling include Kaiser, Kaisser, Kaizer, Kayser, Kaysser, Kayzer, Keiser, Keyser, Keisser, Keizer, Kaisling, Kaissling, Keyserling and many more.

Early Notables of the Keisling family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Keisling were Pieter de Keyser (c.1595-1676), a Dutch Golden Age architect and sculptor; Reinhard Keiser (1674-1739), German composer; and Friedrich Kaiser (1814-1874), the son of an Austrian...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keisling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Keisling migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Keisling or a variant listed above:

Keisling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Keisling, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1766 1
  • Jacob Keisling, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1766 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Keisling (post 1700) +

  • Phil Keisling (b. 1955), American politician, Member of Oregon State House of Representatives, 1989-91; Secretary of State of Oregon, 1991- 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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