Reisner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Reisner family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Reisner is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wood carver. Checking further we found the name was derived from the medieval German word ris or risle, which means branch or twig. Furthermore, there are numerous places in Germany named Reisen. There is a town called Reisen in Bavaria and a town Reissen in Thuringia.

Early Origins of the Reisner family

The surname Reisner was first found in Bavaria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. The name may have its origin, or the family may have lent its name to the town Reisen in Bavaria and the town Reissen in Thuringia. Chronicles first mention Hanke von Reysen of Glatz in 1348, and the name Reisner is found in 1348 in Bruenn, 1386 in Kolion, and 1383 in Wuerzburg. The variation Reyssener is found in Freiberg as early as 1465. In their later history the various branches became a powers unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as their influence grew.

Early History of the Reisner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reisner research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1580, 1653, 1680, 1725, 1752 and 1816 are included under the topic Early Reisner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reisner Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Reisner include Reisner, Reisener, Reissner, Reissener, Reisne, Reisen, Reissen, Reissne, Reysner, Reyssner, Reysener, Reyssener, Risener and many more.

Early Notables of the Reisner family

Prominent among members of the name Reisner in this period include

Friedrich Risner (c.1533-1580), German mathematician, the first to propose the idea of a portable camera obscura; Lieutenant Field-Marshal Reisner, who was awarded the title of Baron in 1816 for his 4...

Reisner migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Reisner surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Reisner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Michel Reisner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 1

Reisner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Louis Reisner, who settled in Texas with his son, Auguste, in 1850

Contemporary Notables of the name Reisner (post 1700) +

Allen Reisner (b. 1988), American NFL football tight end
George Andrew Reisner (1867-1942), American Egyptologist, best known for discovering the Reisner Papyri in 1901-1904
Charles Reisner (1887-1952), American actor and film director who starred with Charlie Chaplin in A Dog's Life in 1918 and The Kid in 1921
Marc Reisner (1948-2000), American environmentalist
Ralph Reisner, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1972 2

Citations +

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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html