Show ContentsMeisner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Meisner belongs to a class of local surname, which are derived from the place where the original bearer lived or held land. Meisner is a habitational surname, and is derived from an already- existing place name. The original bearer of the surname Meisner lived in the town of Meissen, in the Saxony region of Germany.

Early Origins of the Meisner family

The surname Meisner was first found in Meissen, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. The name refers to the city or principality of Meissen, now a part of Saxony. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Meisner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meisner research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1372, 1411, 1436, 1753, 1803, 1822, 1848 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Meisner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meisner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meissner, Meisner, Misener, Meissener, Meisener, Misner, Meixner, Meichsner, Mechsner, Mexner and many more.

Early Notables of the Meisner family

Prominent bearers of the family name Meisner at this time were Der Meissner, who was a Middle-High German poet of the late 13th century. August Gottlieb Meissner (1753-1803) was a professor in Prague before becoming the director of the Lyceum...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meisner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meisner Ranking

In the United States, the name Meisner is the 10,733rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Meisner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meisner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Nicolaus Meisner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1748
  • Nicklaus Meisner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 2
  • Henrich Meisner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772 2
  • Gottfried Meisner, who landed in America in 1778 2
  • Theodor Meisner, who landed in America in 1778 2
Meisner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Balthasar Meisner, aged 44, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Weser" in 1844
  • Mrs. Barbara Meisner, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Weser" in 1844
  • Miss Josepha Meisner, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Weser" in 1844
  • Mr. Joh. Adam Meisner, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Weser" in 1844
  • Charlott Meisner, aged 16, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1845 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Meisner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meisner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Casper Meisner, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Elisabeth Meisner, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • John Meisner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Caspar Meisner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757

Contemporary Notables of the name Meisner (post 1700) +

  • Randall Herman "Randy" Meisner (1946-2023), American musician, singer, songwriter, and founding member of the Eagles, he co-wrote and sang lead vocal on the Eagles hit song "Take It to the Limit"
  • Sanford Meisner (1905-1997), American actor and acting coach, creator of the Meisner technique, co-founder of The Sanford Meisner Center for the Arts
  • George Meisner (1845-1909), German-born, American banker, bank owner, bank president, founder of Meisner's Bank in Shelton, Nebraska
  • Andrew Meisner (b. 1973), American politician, Member of the Michigan House of Representatives (2003-2009)
  • Gregory Paul "Greg" Meisner (b. 1959), former American football defensive lineman who played from 1981 to 1991
  • LaVerne Donald "Verne" Meisner (1938-2005), American polka musician
  • Maurice Jerome Meisner (1931-2012), American historian and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Randy Herman Meisner (b. 1946), American founder of the band the Eagles, best known for his hit song "Take It to the Limit", which he wrote and sang
  • Grover A. Meisner, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Shawano County, 1938 3
  • Joachim Meisner (1933-2017), German prelate, Bishop of Berlin (1980–1988) and Archbishop of Cologne (1988–2014)
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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