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

Riss, 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 Riss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riss in America

Riss is the 43206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riss surname appeared 500 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Riss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riss to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Riss

The surname RISS is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "rīse," meaning a branch or twig, suggesting that it may have initially been an occupational name for a woodcutter or forester.

The earliest known bearers of the RISS surname were likely from the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Historical records indicate that the name was also present in parts of Switzerland and Austria during the medieval period.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the RISS name can be found in the Württemberg tax rolls of 1389, where a certain Hans Riss is listed as a resident of the town of Esslingen. Another early reference appears in the city records of Nürnberg from 1426, where a Konrad Riss is mentioned as a member of the local guild of tailors.

In the 16th century, the RISS surname gained prominence through the renowned German theologian and Reformer, Johannes Riss (1522-1588). Born in the town of Neuenburg am Rhein, Riss was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable bearer of the RISS name was the German painter and printmaker, Johann Conrad Riss (1666-1705). Hailing from the city of Nuremberg, Riss was known for his intricate etchings and engravings, many of which depicted biblical scenes and allegorical subjects.

During the 18th century, the RISS surname was also found in the records of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, where a family by the name of Riss held land and estates in the town of Oberlahnstein. One member of this family, Philipp Riss (1732-1798), served as a high-ranking officer in the Prussian army during the reign of Frederick the Great.

As the RISS name spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it also gave rise to various place names and toponyms. For instance, the village of Rissbach in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg is believed to have derived its name from the presence of RISS families in the area during the late medieval period.

While the RISS surname is predominantly of German origin, it has also been found in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage. In the 19th century, for example, there were notable RISS families living in the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riss

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Riss was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Riss has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Riss was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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