Show ContentsAdler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Adler

What does the name Adler mean?

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Adler. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of East Prussia, which was located on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and was bordered by Poland and Lithuania, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Adler family.

Early Origins of the Adler family

The surname Adler was first found in Prussia, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Adler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adler research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1629, 1630, 1709, 1803, 1839, 1864, 1890, 1891 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Adler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adler Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Adler include Adler, Addler, Adller, Addlers, Adllers and others.

Early Notables of the Adler family

Notable figures of the time with the name Adler were

  • Salomon Adler (c. 1630-1709), a German painter of the Baroque period
  • Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-1890), born in Hanover, who became the British Chief Rabbi. His son, Hermann Adler (1839-1911), succeeded him as Chief Rabbi in 1891

Adler Ranking

In the United States, the name Adler is the 2,473rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1


Adler migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Adlers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Adler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Danll Adler, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 2
Adler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Paulus Adler, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Johannes Adler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1773 2
  • Christn Adler, aged 36, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1787 2
Adler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Morris Adler, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 2
  • Lewis Adler, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1844 2
  • Israel Adler, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 2
  • Fanny Adler, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1844 2
  • Anselm Adler, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Adler Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Mojzesz Adler, Swedish settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951
  • Mrs. Pola Adler, Swedish settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951
  • Mr. Wladyslaw Adler, Swedish settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951
  • Miss Helena Adler, Swedish settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951

Adler migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Adler Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Charles Adler, aged 15, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" 3
  • Frances Adler, aged 22, a book folder, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"

Contemporary Notables of the name Adler (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Adler (1940-2020), American theatre and film director
  • Felix Adler (1851-1933), German-born American philanthropist and educator, who fought for the abolition of child labor
  • David Adler (1935-1987), American physicist and MIT professor
  • Richard Adler (1921-2012), American three-time Tony award, Emmy Award winning producer and composer who was nominated four times for a Pulitzer
  • Mark Adler (b. 1959), American Spirit Mission Manager for the Mars Exploration Rover mission but perhaps best known for his work in the field of data compression
  • Lawrence Cecil Adler (1914-2001), American musician widely acknowledged as one of the world's most skilled harmonica players
  • Charles Adler Jr. (1899-1980), American inventor and engineer responsible for the first modern traffic light
  • H. C. Adler, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1912 4
  • Emmett A. Adler, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Follansbee, West Virginia, 1966-69 4
  • E. P. Adler, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1932 4
  • ... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Hans Adler (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5
  • August Adler (1911-1941), German Obermaschinist who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5
Triangle Waist Company
  • Miss Lizzie Adler (b. 1887), Romanian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 6


The Adler Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Alsen


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Lysander.htm
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  6. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire


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