Keyser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Keyser family

The surname Keyser 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 Keyser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keyser 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 Keyser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keyser Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Keyser include Kaiser, Kaisser, Kaizer, Kayser, Kaysser, Kayzer, Keiser, Keyser, Keisser, Keizer, Kaisling, Kaissling, Keyserling and many more.

Early Notables of the Keyser family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Keyser 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...
William de Keyser (1647-1692?), was a painter and native of Antwerp and by profession originally a jeweller, with a large and prosperous business at Antwerp

Keyser Ranking

In the United States, the name Keyser is the 4,689^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Keyser migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Keyser were

Keyser Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Keyser, who sailed to Lynn, Massachusetts in 1638
Thomas Keyser, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1638 2
Peter Keyser, who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683
Dirk Keyser, who arrived in Germantown in 1691
Dirrck Keyser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1691-1692 2

Keyser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Friedrich Keyser and Johann Keyser, who settled in America in 1709-1710
Agnis Keyser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 2
Eliza Keyser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 2
Jacob Keyser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 2
Welder Keyser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keyser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bergitta Christina Keyser, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 2
Wilhelm Keyser, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 2
Samuel Keyser, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1838 2
Masset Keyser, who landed in New York in 1839 2
Fredrick Keyser, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keyser (post 1700) +

Frank Ray Keyser Jr. (1927-2015), American lawyer and politician, 72nd Governor of Vermont (1961-1963)
Brigadier-General George Vernon Keyser (1895-1972), American Chief of Counter Intelligence Corps (1947-1948) 3
Christopher Adam Keyser (b. 1960), American producer and writer of prime-time dramas
Ephraim Keyser (b. 1850), American sculptor
William Keyser (1835-1904), executive of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Cassius Jackson Keyser (1862-1947), American mathematician
Frank Ray Keyser Jr. (b. 1927), American Republican politician, Governor of Vermont, 1961-63; Defeated, 1962 4
Frank Ray Keyser Sr. (1898-2001), American politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives, 1937-39; Superior Court Judge in Vermont, 1956-64; Justice of Vermont State Supreme Court, 1964-75 4
Ellen L. Keyser, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Vermont, 1948 4
Anna L. Keyser, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940 4
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Keyser 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/
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)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) George Keyser. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Keyser/George_Vernon/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html