Show ContentsRisen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Risen family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Risen 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 Risen family

The surname Risen 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 Risen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Risen 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 Risen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Risen 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 Risen include Reisner, Reisener, Reissner, Reissener, Reisne, Reisen, Reissen, Reissne, Reysner, Reyssner, Reysener, Reyssener, Risener and many more.

Early Notables of the Risen family

Prominent among members of the name Risen 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 40 years of outstanding service in the artillery divisions in Vienna. The variation Reissen was represented by a family that came from...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Risen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Risen family

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Risen or a variant listed above: Hans Michel Reisner, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1732; Wilhelm Reysner, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1738; Michel Reisener, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Pennsylvania in 1749.



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