Show ContentsWalliser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Walliser family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Walliser is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a man who was a young ruler.

Early Origins of the Walliser family

The surname Walliser was first found in Bavaria, where the name Walser made a great early contribution to the feudal society of early Europe. The name Walser became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Walliser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walliser research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1661 is included under the topic Early Walliser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walliser Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Walliser include Walser, Walzer, Walsser, Walleser, Walsen, Waltz, Waltzer, Walss, Waelser, Waelzer, Waelsser, Waelleser and many more.

Early Notables of the Walliser family

More information is included under the topic Early Walliser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Walliser migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Walliser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Walliser, who arrived in America in 1749 [1]
  • Michael Walliser, who landed in Georgia in 1751 [1]

Canada Walliser migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Walliser Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Anthony Walliser U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 [2]
  • Mr. Anthony Walliser U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [2]
  • Mr. John Walliser U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 [2]
  • Mr. Martin Walliser U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Walliser (post 1700) +

  • Ursi Walliser (b. 1975), Swiss skeleton racer
  • Maria Walliser (b. 1963), Swiss World Championship three-time gold medalist alpine skier


  1. 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)
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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