This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kaiser family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kaiser Family History

Kaiser Surname Meaning

German and Dutch: from Middle High German keiser ‘emperor’ from the Latin imperial title Caesar. This was the title borne by Holy Roman Emperors from Otto I (962) to Francis II (who relinquished the title in 1806). Later it was borne by the monarch of Bismarck's united Germany (1871–1918).

It is very common as a German surname originating partly as an occupational name for a servant in the Emperor's household, partly as a nickname for someone who behaved in an imperious manner, and partly as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of an emperor.

This surname is also found in many other European countries, for example in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Czechia, and Slovenia.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Kaiser ‘emperor’ adopted (like Graf, Herzog, etc.) because of its aristocratic connotations.

Germanized form of Polish, Slovenian, and Croatian Kajzer, Czech and Slovenian Kajzar, or Czech Kajzr: nickname of German origin (see 1 above), often applied as a translation into German of corresponding Slavic nicknames and surnames.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kaiser family from?

You can see how Kaiser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kaiser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kaiser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 134 Kaiser families living in Ontario. This was about 39% of all the recorded Kaiser's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Kaiser families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kaiser surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kaiser ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Student were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Kaiser. 33% of Kaiser men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Kaiser women worked as a Student. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kaiser were Carpenter and Clerk.

View Census Data for Kaiser | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    33%
  • Fisherman
    23%
  • Labourer
    11%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Student
    34%
  • Waitress
    34%
  • Clerk
    34%

What Kaiser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 137,000 census records available for the last name Kaiser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kaiser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kaiser

Passenger Lists

There are 34,000 immigration records available for the last name Kaiser. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kaiser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 119,000 military records available for the last name Kaiser. For the veterans among your Kaiser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kaiser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kaiser family history

Discover More

What is the average Kaiser lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Kaiser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kaiser in 1940 was 42, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kaiser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kaiser ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kaiser family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial