Contents [hide]

Kaiser History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Kaiser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Kaiser family

The surname Kaiser was first found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Kaiser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kaiser research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1226, 1595, 1647, 1674, 1676, 1692, 1710, 1715, 1739, 1775, 1814 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Kaiser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaiser 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 Kaiser include Kaiser, Kaisser, Kaizer, Kayser, Kaysser, Kayzer, Keiser, Keyser, Keisser, Keizer, Kaisling, Kaissling, Keyserling and many more.

Early Notables of the Kaiser family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Kaiser were

Pieter de Keyser (c.1595-1676), a Dutch Golden Age architect and sculptor; Reinhard Keiser (1674-1739), German composer; and Friedrich Kaiser (1814-1874), the son of an Austrian officer, who was an un...

Kaiser Ranking

In the United States, the name Kaiser is the 1,285^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Kaiser is ranked the 4,645^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Kaiser migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Kaiser or a variant listed above:

Kaiser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jerick Kaiser, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740
Jerick Kaiser, aged 26, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 3
Sebastian Kaiser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 3
Valentin Kaiser, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
Jacob Kaiser, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kaiser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Godleib Kaiser, aged 26, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 3
John Kaiser, who arrived in Ohio in 1826 3
David Kaiser, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 3
Moses Kaiser, who arrived in America in 1833 3
Salomon Kaiser, who landed in America in 1833 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kaiser Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Paul Kaiser, who arrived in Alabama in 1925 3
Mike Kaiser, who landed in Alabama in 1925 3
Anna Kaiser, who arrived in Alabama in 1929 3

Kaiser migration to Australia +

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

Kaiser Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret Kaiser, aged 19, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Navarino" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Kaiser (post 1700) +

John Warren "Jack" Kaiser (1926-2022), American Athletics Director Emeritus at St. John's University in Queens, NY, inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1979, eponym of the Jack Kaiser Stadium
Kurt Kaiser (1934-2018), American contemporary church music composer
Kenneth John Kaiser (1945-2017), American Major League Baseball umpire who officiated in the World Series in 1987 and 1997, as well as the All-Star Game in 1991
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser Sr. (1908-1981), American industrialist, Chairman of Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation and the Kaiser Steel Corporation, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Tim Kaiser, American television producer, known for his work on Seinfeld
Robert G. Kaiser (b. 1943), American former associate editor and senior correspondent of The Washington Post
Robert Blair Kaiser (b. 1930), American author and journalist, best known for his writing on the Catholic Church
John Anthony Kaiser (1932-2000), American Roman Catholic priest who was murdered in Morendat, Kenya by unknown assailants
Henry J. Kaiser (1882-1967), American industrialist who established the Kaiser Shipyards, which built Liberty ships during World War II, founder of the Kaiser Family Foundation
George Kaiser (b. 1943), American businessman, Chairman of BOK Financial Corporation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the 100 richest people in the world, one of the top 50 American philanthropists
... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kaiser family +

Bismarck

Rudolf Kaiser (1919-1941), German Maschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5
Josef Kaiser (1915-1941), German Mechanikersmaat (A) who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5
Adolf Kaiser (1919-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5

SS Atlantic

Mr. Alex Kaiser, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Robert Oscar Kaiser, American Fireman First Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 6

The Kaiser 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: Mit Gott fuer Kaiser und Reich
Motto Translation: With God for emperors and realm

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
South Australian Register Friday 22nd February 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1856.shtml
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html