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Reiser Family History

Reiser Name Meaning

German: habitational name for someone from Reis in Bavaria or Reissen in Thuringia (see Reis ). German and Swiss German: occupational name from Middle High German reisære ‘warrior traveler (on horseback)’. South German: topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket (see Rieser 1 and Riser ). South German: variant of Reisser an occupational name for a woodcutter or engraver Middle High German rīsser. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Reise ‘journey’ (see Reise 3 also compare 2 above) or Reis ‘rice; twig’ (see Reis 7 and ) + the agent suffix -er. It is one of surnames assigned at random by Austrian clerks.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Reisner, Reifer, Riser, Leiser, Peiser, Reiter, Meiser, Kreiser

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Reiser family from?

You can see how Reiser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reiser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Reiser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 5 Reiser families living in Ohio. This was about 42% of all the recorded Reiser's in USA. Ohio and 1 other state had the highest population of Reiser families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reiser surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Reiser ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Reiser. 17% of Reiser men worked as a Farmer and 13% of Reiser women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reiser were Clerk and Operator. .

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*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    17%
  • Laborer
    9%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Clerk
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    13%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Teacher
    8%
  • Operator
    7%
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What Reiser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Reiser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reiser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Reiser

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Reiser. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Reiser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Reiser. For the veterans among your Reiser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reiser military records

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What is the average Reiser lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Reiser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Reiser in 1945 was 38, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reiser

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