Surname Kreißler - Meaning and Origin
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Kreißler: What does the surname Kreißler mean?
The last name Kreißler is a German surname derived from the word "Kreis" meaning circle or ring. It was often given to families who lived in or around a circular-shaped area, generally a village or hamlet. It is also thought to be related to the occupation of wheel or wagon makers, since these craftsmen used a lathe to carve wooden wagon wheels into a rounded or circular shape.
The surname Kreißler is fairly common in Germany and other parts of the German-speaking regions of Europe and is found with variations spelled Kreyssler, Kreiser, Creissler, and Kreußler. However, there are some alternative origin theories for the Kreißler last name. Some believe it is derived from a given name or short form of the medieval female name Crescencia, derived from the Latin word crēscere meaning to 'grow or increase'.
Today, the Kreißler surname is quite common in Germany and Austria. There are many notable individuals who bear the name, including prominent actor Alexander Kreißler, German swimmer Christian Kreißler, and several authors such as Klaus-Dieter Kreissler and Felix Kreissler.
Order DNA origin analysisKreißler: Where does the name Kreißler come from?
The last name Kreißler is most commonly seen today in parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Even though this name is found mainly in German-speaking countries, there are some examples of it found in other countries around the world such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Germany, the Kreißler surname can be found most often in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Thuringia. In Austria, the name is represented strongly in the states of Vienna, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. In Switzerland, Kreißler is most commonly seen in the districts of Zurich, Basel-Landschaft, Solothurn, and Basel-Stadt.
Since the name is of German origin, many of the family members bearing the name Kreißler may have come from Germany during the 19th century. This is particularly true in the United States, where many German immigrants settled and eventually changed the spelling of their name to something that was easier for Americans to pronounce.
Interestingly, some modern-day Kreißlers may be of Jewish heritage since many members of the Jewish faith were forced to change their names in order to survive the turmoil and upheaval during this time. Although this is rare today, it is quite possible that some members of the Kreißler family have a Jewish background.
Overall, the Kreißler last name is primarily seen in parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, due to immigration and relocation, it can be found in other parts of the world as well.
Variations of the surname Kreißler
The surname Kreißler is of Germanic origin, stemming from the Middle High German term “Kreüslar”, meaning “curly-haired man”. In some parts of the United States, the surname is also found spelled as Crissler, Krissler, Krisler, Kriessler, Kriesler, and Keriessler.
Kreißler is a common surname in Germany, with an estimated 30,400 people bearing the name as of 2015. It is not known how many of those individuals still reside in Germany today, but the surname is spread throughout the country.
The surname has been known to be anglicized in the United States. One example of this is the family of William Crissler, who emigrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1725. It is believed that the Delaware native’s family had the spelling of Crissler rather than Kreißler upon arriving in the United States, which may have been the result of an attempt to further anglicize the name.
The name can be seen in various spellings throughout the United States, with Kriessler being especially popular in Ohio, and Krissler being found primarily in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, Kriesler is a common spelling of the surname, and has been traced back to Johannes Kriesler, who is recorded as arriving in Philadelphia from Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 1808.
Kreißler is also a common surname in Austria, where records dating back to the 18th century indicate the presence of the name in Bavaria, a state located in southern Germany near Austria.
In all, Kreißler and its variants are a fairly widespread surname throughout Germany and the United States. The name appears to have emerged from the Middle High German term for “curly-haired man”, and been anglicized in some parts of the United States, resulting in alternate spellings such as Crissler and Kriesler.
Famous people with the name Kreißler
- Alfred Kreißler (1863-1931): Austrian jurist and minister.
- Rose Kreißler (1885: 1974): German artist
- Johannes Kreißler (1891: 1963): German painter
- Karl Kreißler (1924: 2000): German architect
- Hans Kreißler (1930: 2014): Austrian writer and Nobel Prize winner
- Earl Kreißler (1951: present): German actor and director
- Florian Kreißler (1988: present): Austrian composer and concert pianist
- Richard Kreißler (1934-present): German physicist
- Jörg Kreißler (1959-present): Austrian politician
- Helmut Kreißler (1935–2013): Austrian Olympic track and field athlete