Show ContentsKisner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Kisner family. Kisner is a local name, first used as a surname for someone who lived in Franconia where their name rose to prominence through their involvement in the social and cultural affairs of the area.

Early Origins of the Kisner family

The surname Kisner was first found in Franconia, where the name was an integral part of the feudal society which would shape modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.

Early History of the Kisner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kisner research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1468, 1565, 1635, 1741, 1769, 1773, 1800 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Kisner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kisner Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Kisner include Kaestner, Kastner, Kestner, Kastener, Kaestener, Kestener, Cestner, Kesstner, Kaesstner, Kasstner, Castner, Caestner, Koestner, Kostner, Coestner and many more.

Early Notables of the Kisner family

Prominent among members of the name Kisner in this period include Franz de Paula Andreas Joseph Bonaventura Castner von Collenbach (b.1769), Lord of the estate Collenbach near Staubing in Bavaria, who distinguished himself as a lawyer and major of the Bavarian regiment of Viechtach. Johann Georg Christian Kestner...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kisner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kisner Ranking

In the United States, the name Kisner is the 8,637th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Kisner migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Kisners to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Kisner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jakob Kisner, who landed in Kansas in 1877 2
  • Kaspar Kisner, who arrived in Kansas in 1877 2


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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