Keisman last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Keisman is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Keisman.

Meaning of Keisman

A locational surname originating from the town of Keissen in Germany.

Keisman, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Keisman surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Keisman in America

Keisman is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keisman surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Keisman.

The history of the last name Keisman

The surname Keisman likely originates from Eastern Europe, particularly from regions that are today parts of Germany, Poland, or Russia. It is believed to have arisen in the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. This surname is possibly derived from a combination of older language elements. The name could be linked to the German word "keis" meaning "stone" or "rock," indicating a strong or steadfast family characteristic. Another possibility is a link to the Middle High German word "keiser" which means "emperor," perhaps suggesting that the family held a respected or authoritative position.

Keisman also shares similarities with other surnames from the same geographical regions, such as Keisler or Keiser, which may denote a common origin or evolution from the same root words. Historical records mention the surname Keisman in various forms across medieval documents. One of the earliest appearances of the name dates back to the 14th century in the records of the Teutonic Knights who controlled parts of Eastern Europe during that time.

One significant figure bearing the surname was Heinrich Keisman, a noted scholar in Königsberg, born in 1501 and educated at the University of Kraków. He contributed significantly to the translation of classical texts during the Renaissance period and died in 1567. Another distinguished individual was Marek Keisman, an influential merchant in Gdańsk during the late 16th century, born around 1550 and known for his trade networks throughout the Baltic region until his death in 1612.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Keisman surname appears in various civic and religious records. Johann Keisman, born in 1678 in what is now modern-day Lithuania, served as a Lutheran pastor and was instrumental in establishing schools and churches in rural areas. His efforts are recorded in church registries until his death in 1734. Another member of the Keisman family, Anna Keisman, a noted midwife born in 1715 in East Prussia, left her mark by improving childbirth practices until her passing in 1779.

By the 19th century, records show a Wilhelm Keisman, an industrialist born in 1810 in Silesia, who played a role in the early industrialization processes in that region. His business ventures and efforts in promoting modernization were documented until his death in 1873. Additionally, Lena Keisman, born in 1845 in Warsaw, showed remarkable resilience during turbulent times in Poland and made significant contributions as a community leader and philanthropist until her death in 1922.

Through these historical snapshots, the surname Keisman highlights a legacy of influential figures contributing to academia, the economy, and societal development in their respective eras and regions. The origins of the name, stemming from medieval language and culture, trace a rich lineage that has manifested in various notable personalities over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keisman

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Keisman.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Keisman was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.16% 94
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 6.86% 7

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Keisman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keisman, please contact us.

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"Keisman last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/keisman-surname-popularity/.

"Keisman last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/keisman-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 May, 2025

Keisman last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/keisman-surname-popularity/.

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