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

Risser, 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 Risser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Risser in America

Risser is the 15898th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Risser surname appeared 1,829 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Risser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Risser 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 Risser

The surname Risser has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "riser," which referred to a person who resided near a steep slope or cliff. The name was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Risser name can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, dating back to the late 16th century. These records mention several families bearing the Risser surname, indicating their presence in the region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the Risser name began to spread across other parts of Europe as a result of migration and trade. Records from this era show individuals with the surname Risser residing in areas such as Switzerland, Alsace (now part of France), and the Netherlands.

Notable individuals who carried the Risser surname throughout history include Johann Risser (1609-1675), a renowned clockmaker from the city of Augsburg, who was renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces. Another prominent figure was Anna Risser (1732-1809), a philanthropist and social reformer from the town of Heidelberg, who established several shelters and orphanages for underprivileged children.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Risser family emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded Rissers in America was Hans Risser (1725-1803), a farmer and miller from Lancaster County, whose descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States.

Another notable individual was Friedrich Risser (1856-1924), a German-American architect who designed several prominent buildings in Chicago and other cities across the Midwest. His most famous work is the historic Risser Building in Chicago, which was completed in 1892 and is considered an excellent example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style.

Throughout the centuries, variations of the Risser surname have emerged, such as Riser, Rissert, and Rissler, reflecting regional dialects and spelling preferences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Old German word "riser" and its association with residing near steep terrain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Risser

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

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

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

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