Elser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The surname Elser has two possible origins. In the Lower Rhineland and Westphalia, the name is tends to be derived from the many places in that region called Else, Els, or Elsen. However, the surname tends to be matronymic in Upper Germany and Switzerland, and is derived from the female personal name Else.

Early Origins of the Elser family

The surname Elser was first found in many areas around Germany. The earliest record belongs to Alsace, where Cunrad filius Else was documented in 1323, but within the same century the name appears in various other locations.

Early History of the Elser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elser research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1357, 1381, 1382, 1388, 1412, 1433, 1436, 1475, 1476, 1549, 1576, 1791 and 1799 are included under the topic Early Elser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elser Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Else, Elsen, Elser, Elsemann, Els, Elss, Elsler, Elsner, Tenelsen, Vanelsen, Elsensohn and many more.

Early Notables of the Elser family

Notables of the time with the name Elser included Joseph Elsner, composer, born June 1, 1769, at Grodgrau, in Silesia, son of a carpenter who made harpsichords, harps, and other musical instruments. Being intended for the profession of medicine, he had no regular instruction in music beyond a few lessons in harmony from Förster, director of the theatre at Breslau, but early began to compose. A visit to Vienna enabled him greatly to improve himself by...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elser Ranking

In the United States, the name Elser is the 13,794^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Elser migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Elser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Peter Elser, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1749
Peter Elser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2

Elser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Elser, who arrived in Baltimore in 1834
Kasper Elser, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1856
Wendelin Elser, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 2
William Elser, who arrived in Arkansas in 1888 2
Jacob Elser, who arrived in Arkansas in 1888 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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