Surname Leisler - Meaning and Origin
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Leisler: What does the surname Leisler mean?
The last name Leisler is derived from the Germanic name Layseler, which is composed of two elements: the personal name Lay, derived from the Germanic layo, meaning “law”; and seler, a derivative of sila, meaning “soil” or “land”. The name is likely meant to convey the ancestor of the Leisler surname was a lawman or landowner whose family lived in a particular area.
The Leisler surname is more direct descendant of the 19th century German Political Revolt known as the Leisler Rebellion. The revolt was led by Mayor of Hamburg Jacob Leisler, and the Leisler family was deeply involved in the rebellion. Leisler himself was an activist who wanted to organize the people to fight for the freedom of the masses. This effort ultimately failed, but many of the family remain proud of their ancestor's political bravery.
The current Leisler surname holders may have diverse origins, but the surname itself carries with it a deep history. Many descendants of Jacob Leisler proudly carry on his name, and although the revolution failed, he is memorialized in many German towns through monuments and street names. Despite its political history, the surname Leisler remains strong and is a prominent surname in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisLeisler: Where does the name Leisler come from?
The last name Leisler is one that is common today mainly in German-speaking countries and the United States. It is a surname of German origin, coming from the Middle High German name ‘Leyssler,’ which was derived from the word ‘Leitgel,’ which means ‘leadership’ or ‘command.’
In Germany, the name Leisler is most common in the northern states of Saxony and Brandenburg, where there were numerous Leisler families in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the name is one of the fifty most common German last names, with about 17,000 people bearing the name Leisler found throughout Germany.
In the United States, the surname Leisler was brought by immigrants from Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is currently the 27,401st most common surname in the U.S. and is concentrated in the Midwest and Northeast.
Overall, being a part of the German-speaking countries and the U.S., the last name Leisler is a relatively common one today; found in both Germany, where it is more concentrated in the northern states, and the United States, where there is a higher concentration in the Midwest and Northeast.
Variations of the surname Leisler
The surname Leisler has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same or similar origin. Most of these variants have German roots, and a few from other countries as well. In Germany, the spelling has been found as Leisler, Layßler, Läysler, Leislir, Leysler, Leßler, and Leßeler. In the United States and Canada, the surname has appeared as Lesslair, Lesslar, Leesler, Leisler, Lossler, Loser, and Loesser. In Luxembourg, the spelling variations have been found as Läisler, Läysler, Leesler, Leisler, and Leysler. In Switzerland, the spelling can be found as Läisler, Läysler, Leisler, and Leysler. In other areas of the world, such as the Netherlands, the spellings can include Leisler and Liesler.
The surname Leisler is a German surname which derived from the personal name Lyseler or Lyse. This was then altered to the usual form, as it was believed to be derived from "lichseler", which meant little light. This surname has been found all over, and is still quite common in the 21st century.
Famous people with the name Leisler
- Bernd Leister: German former professional footballer
- Jacob Leisler: German-American colonist in New York City during the late 17th century
- Johann Leisler: German merchant, shipbuilder, and steamship owner
- Rose Leisler: American pediatrician, research scientist, and lecturer
- Padraic Leisler: Irish musician and composer
- Jutta Leisler: German psychotherapist
- Evi Leisler-Spieß: Swiss journalist
- Kasia Leisler: Polish film director
- Yvonne Leisler: German speed skater
- Holger Leisler: German composer and musician