Surname Riesor - Meaning and Origin
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Riesor: What does the surname Riesor mean?
The last name Riesor is of German origins and derives from the Bavarian word “Ritser” which translates to a horseman or knight. Depending on the region and spelling, the name can also be Reisner or Ritscher.
The name is thought to have first originated in the northern Bavarian region of Swabia during the 11th century. The earliest known mention of the name was during the 1240s when a count known as Eberhard de Reisner was witnessed to accept service as a knight at the foundation of the Monastery of Neresheim.
Throughout history the Riesor name has been associated with important contributions to society and governmental affairs. In the 17th century, during the Thirty Years War, the name is recorded as one of many signers of the Surrender of the City of Lüneburg, with the name Petrus de Reisner being another notable member of the family.
More recently in the early 19th century, there was a prominent German politician, Christoph Friedrich Riesor, who served in the Bavarian legislature and held the position of Bavarian ambassador in St. Petersburg.
Today, Riesor continues to be a popular surname throughout Germany and is associated with loyalty, strength, and success. While the origin of the name has become distant in time, it continues to uphold a legacy of important contributions to history.
Order DNA origin analysisRiesor: Where does the name Riesor come from?
The last name Riesor is not a particularly common surname today. It is primarily derived from the Middle German word "Risur," meaning "shear," and it is thought to have been first used to describe someone that worked as a sheep shearer.
The surname Riesor can be found primarily in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Records from the 16th century indicate that the name was used primarily in urban areas of Saxony, Thuringia, and Bavaria. Today, the most populous region for the surname is Hesse, a state in central Germany. The Riesor surname may also be found in Austria, Switzerland, and some other areas of Germany.
Outside of Europe, Riesor may be found in other areas settled by German immigrants, particularly in the US Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. In more recent times, immigrants bearing the surname have found their way to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Overall, though, the surname Riesor remains relatively rare. It is not as common as many other German surnames such as Schmidt, Mueller, or Becker, which can still be found in great abundance in German-speaking regions.
Variations of the surname Riesor
The surname Riesor has many variants and spellings, the most common of which are Riser, Reisser, Reysser, Reiser, Rizer, Ryce, Ryse, Ryzer, Rysser.
Riesor is an occupational surname, which means one who lives in a house in the Rye field. The name itself has German origins and is a combination of two elements: the Rye element and the Sor element. Rye is a grain and Sor means plowman or farmer. Initially, the surname Riesor indicated a farmer who owned a field where Rye was grown.
Riesor is also a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the name of the paternal ancestor such as the father or grandfather of the original bearer.
Variants of the Riesor surname include Reisser, Reiser, Riser and Ryce. The spelling variant Reiser is found mainly in Austria, Reisser is found mainly in Germany, and Riser is found in Germany and Switzerland.
Variants of the Riesor surname throughout Europe include Rye, Rycer, Reyser, Reiser, Ryser, Rysser, Rischer, Reser, Resor, Raiser, Riser, Riser, Rizar, Ryzar, Ryse, Ryzer, Rysser and Rizer. Along with these variants, patronymic surnames associated with Riesor include Reiser, Reysser and Reisser.
Famous people with the name Riesor
- Dr. Michael Riesor: renowned ER doctor and critical care specialist in Denver, Colorado.
- Joyce Riesor: a professional photographer and business owner based in San Jose, California.
- Donald Riesor: noted physicist and author of basic and advanced physics textbooks.
- Gordon Riesor: Olympic speed skater, gold medalist in the 1994 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
- Mark Riesor: professional NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs.
- Kirk Riesor: professional bassist and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, Texas.
- Rina Riesor: award-winning violinist and composer from Canada.
- Julian Riesor: award-winning documentary filmmaker from Mexico.
- Joe Riesor: Grammy Award winning recording artist and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
- Ashley Riesor: international opera singer and winner of the 2004 Classical Singer Voice Competition.