KAISER Surname Meaning and Family History

The Kaiser surname means king or ruler, from the Middle High German keiser, meaning emperor. Originating from the Latin name Caesar, this name was often given to individuals who played the part of King in local plays and pageants year after year - a popular pastime during the middle ages. The name may also have been given to one with a kingly appearance or manner. The phrase The Kaiser is considered synonymous with the Kaiser emperors of the Austrian Empire (1804–1835)—Franz I, Ferdinand I, Franz Joseph I, and Karl I—and emperors of the German empire (1871–1918)—Wilhelm I, Friedrich III and Wilhelm II. Surname Origin:  German Alternate Surname Spellings:  KEISER, KEYSER, KISER, KYSER, KIZER, KYZER Famous People with the KAISER Surname Henry J. Kaiser  - American industrialistFrederik Kaiser  - Dutch astronomerReinhard Keiser -  Ã‚  German composer Where is the KAISER Surname Most Common? According to surname distribution from Forebears, the  Kaiser surname is most common in Liechtenstein ranking as the countrys 25th most common surname. It is also popular in Germany (ranked 30th), Austria (50th) and Switzerland (89th).  WorldNames PublicProfiler  indicates the surname is especially common in the Ostschweiz region of Switzerland, particularly in Sankt Gallen. It is also prevalent throughout southern Germany, especially in the regions of Baden-Wà ¼rttemberg, Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz. Surname maps from Verwandt.de  indicate the  Kaiser last name is most common in southwestern Germany and western Germany, especially in the counties or cities of Waldshut, Esslingen, Cologne, Offenbach, Stuttgard and Hochsauerlandkreis.   Genealogy Resources for the Surname KAISER Meanings of Common German SurnamesUncover the meaning of your German last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common German surnames. Kaiser Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Kaiser  family crest or coat of arms for the Kaiser surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. The Kaiser DNA ProjectIndividuals with the  Kaiser surname, or variants such as Kizer, Kiser, Kyser, Kyzer, Keyser, or Keiser, are invited to join this DNA Project to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information.  The website includes information on the project, the research done to date, and instructions on how to participate. KAISER  Family Genealogy ForumThis free message board is focused on descendants of Kaiser  ancestors around the world. FamilySearch - KAISER  GenealogyExplore over 1.3  million results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Kaiser surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. KAISER Surname Mailing ListFree mailing list for researchers of the Kaiser surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages. DistantCousin.com - KAISER Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Kaiser. GeneaNet - Kaiser  RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Kaiser surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. The Kaiser Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Kaiser surname from the website of Genealogy Today.----------------------- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to  Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins