Surname Keisers - Meaning and Origin

Keisers: What does the surname Keisers mean?

The last name Keisers is a German-origin surname derived from the root word kaisers, which is a variant of the word keizer, which means Emperor or Caesar in Dutch. For centuries, many Europeans would given name their children Keiser to convey the privilege of being related to or living in the same area as a powerful official, such as a Duke or Count.

The name Keisers is likely to have been adopted when Europeans began migrating across Europe, carrying their traditional surnames with them and settling in various countries. The name has since evolved throughout different countries in Europe to its current form in the 21st century. It is estimated that there are around 10,800 Keisers living in the United States, with Iowa and Wisconsin having the highest numbers after Germany.

The meaning of the name Keisers is generally viewed as "an emperor or leader," symbolizing power and authority, as befitting of its origin which was literally a royal name given to someone who had the respect and admiration of their peers. Over the centuries, the name has transformed to represent the characteristics of people by invoking a sense of strength and class.

Keisers: Where does the name Keisers come from?

The surname Keisers is a German-Dutch topographic name for someone who lived by the keisers gracht, which is a type of canal or ditch primarily found in the Netherlands and formerly much of Germany. Today, the surname Keisers is most commonly found in northern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, and to a lesser extent, in other countries with large populations of Dutch immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname Keisers is most commonly encountered as a variant spelling of Kuyers, which is itself a derivative of the Dutch term koijers which means ‘ditch dweller’, but Keisers can also be the spelling of a surname derived from kaiser which means ‘emperor’. In total, the surname Keisers is shared by more than 5,000 people today.

Variations of the surname Keisers

The surname Keisers is a very unique surname originating from Germany and Holland. It is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Keiser, which means 'emperor'. Variants of the surname include Kaisers, Kaiser, Keyzers, Keysers, and Keeser. Spellings can also include Keizer, Keisers, Keijser, and Keesers. Surnames of a similar origin include Kayser, Kyzer, Keysor, Keasey, Kiser, and Keeslar.

Keizers is the most traditional surname used for the Germanic spelling, while Keeser is the most traditional Dutch spelling variant. The Dutch spelling variant Keers is also used, and is spelled with one 'e'.

Other variants of the surname Keisers can be found in small populations of Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria. In some cases, the spelling has changed slightly to Kaisers or Kahlers.

The Keisers surname is found mostly in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt. It has also been recorded in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and the United States of America.

Famous people with the name Keisers

• Angelina Keisers: Dutch actress who won a Golden Calf for Best Actress at the Dutch Film Festival in 2004.
• Harry Keisers: American voice actor best known for providing voices for television commercials in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Johann Wilhelm Keisers: German classicist and humanist.
• Hans Keisers: Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist and associate professor at the University of Zurich.
• Fred Keisers: Belgian jurist and university professor.
• Eddie Keisers: American comic artist and illustrator who worked for Mad Magazine and more.
• Elmer Keisers: American animator, who won eight Academy Awards for his work on animated television series.
• Katarina Keisers: Swedish actress best known for her work in films such as Stockholm and Trolljáger.
• Margaret Keisers: Belgian author, poet and Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1943.
• Chris Keisers: American wrestler who competed in the 2008 Olympics and won a World Championship gold medal.

Other surnames

Keiser