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Riesen Family History

Riesen Surname Meaning

German and Swiss German: habitational name from any of several places so named in Bavaria, Württemberg, and Tyrol.

Patronymic from Riese.

Compare Risen.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Riesen family from?

You can see how Riesen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riesen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Riesen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 5 Riesen families living in Saskatchewan. This was 100% of all the recorded Riesen's in Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest population of Riesen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riesen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Riesen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Riesen. 30% of Riesen men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Riesen women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Riesen were Carpenter and Teacher.

View Census Data for Riesen | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Carpenter
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Clerk
    20%
  • Teacher
    14%

What Riesen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Riesen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riesen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Riesen

Passenger Lists

There are 752 immigration records available for the last name Riesen. 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 Riesen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Riesen. For the veterans among your Riesen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riesen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riesen family history

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What is the average Riesen lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Riesen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Riesen in 1960 was 38, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riesen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riesen 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.

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