Surname Greisser - Meaning and Origin
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Greisser: What does the surname Greisser mean?
The last name Greisser is believed to be of German origins, derived from the words "gra," meaning "gray," and "zer," meaning "hair." This suggests that the name was used to denote someone with gray hair, likely as a nickname. The name may have also originated from the word “gries”, meaning gravel or grit.
The family name is extremely rare and is typically associated with countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In these countries, people with the last name Greisser are predominantly found in the city of Bavaria.
The Greisser family has resided in Bavaria since at least the 16th century. It is unclear how long the family has held the surname; it is also unknown whether the family was established due to a common ancestor or if the name was adopted by unrelated people independently.
One version of the family crest shows a knight carrying a shield with a crown in one hand and a spear in the other, with a crested falcon atop the shield. Another version of the crest contains two crossed spears surrounded by a helmet and five gold fleur-de-lis on a blue and white background.
Overall, the last name Greisser is a rare one that is traditionally associated with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to have originated between the 16th and 18th century and likely was a nickname for those with gray hair or someone who made gravel or grit professionally. The Greisser family crest also contains a knight carrying a shield with a crown and spear, as well as two crossed spears and a helmet with five gold fleur-de-lis.
Order DNA origin analysisGreisser: Where does the name Greisser come from?
The last name Greisser is of German origin and the variant spelling is Grieser. It is likely to have derived from the word greif, which means ‘grasp’ or ‘seize’.
Today, the last name Greisser is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Canada, and Australia. This suggests the family immigrated to these countries, either during the great migrations of the 18th and 19th centuries, or later during the World War II period.
In Germany specifically, the family is found mainly in the Bavarian regions of Oberfranken, Mittelfranken, and Unterfranken. These regions are located in the south-eastern part of the country. The Greissers there likely name their families after villages in the region.
In the United States, this last name is found most often in the Midwest and California. With the quantity of Greisser families in California, it is possible some Germans moved there during the Gold Rush.
In Canada, Greisser is mainly found in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario. It is likely the family descended from German immigrants who settled in Ontario and other parts of Canada during the first two waves of German immigration to North America.
In Australia, we find the last name predominantly in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. It is likely that many Greisser families arrived in Australia in the 19th century.
Overall, the last name Greisser is common in countries with large German populations. It is likely that the family has lived across different regions of Germany for centuries, and then immigrated to other parts of the world due to famine, war, or economic pressures.
Variations of the surname Greisser
The surname Greisser, of German origin, is a variant of Griesser, which also has numerous spellings. Greisser can alternatively be spelt as Grisser, Greissor, Griesser, Greiser, Griessor, Greissner, Grizzer, or Griezner. It carries many different versions of the lastname, reflecting the various regional language changes and spelling conventions across Europe in the centuries from the Middle Ages.
The ancestor of the Griesser, Greisser family was 'Grizzutz', from a Latin form of the German name 'Griz' or 'Grizzel'. As a result of linguistic changes, this evolved to 'Gris', the German, Dutch and Danish word for 'grey'. In particular dialects, this may have mutated further over time to the Greisser spelling.
The Griesser, Greisser surname is also used as a patronymic, derived from the given name Gris or Griget, or the Anglo-Norman name Grizwold. This variant was more commonly used in the Middle Ages as an anglicised surname in England.
In early records, the name can also be spelt as Grieser, Griest, Griestar, Greistar, Grist, Greisoft, Greyser, Greener or Greysar. It was also used to denote someone who lived by a grey castle, castle hill or church.
The Greisser family name became prominent in local affairs and the east German region, and its members went on to play a significant role in German history. Today, the surname Griesser, Greisser is still found most commonly in Germany.
Famous people with the name Greisser
- Irina Greisser, Yoga and Nutrition Instructor
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- Tina Greisser, Professor
- Aesin Greisser, Professional Basketball Player
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- August Greisser, Actor
- Bonnie Greisser, Professional Golfer
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