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 Reiss family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Reiss Family History

Reiss Surname Meaning

German: variant of Reis.

German: from a short form of the ancient Germanic compound names formed with ragin ‘advice counsel’.

German: variant of Reuss.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Reis.

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 Reiss family from?

You can see how Reiss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reiss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Reiss families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 18 Reiss families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Reiss's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Reiss families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reiss 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 Reiss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Reiss. 34% of Reiss men worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties and 74% of Reiss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reiss were Reverand and Domestic.

View Census Data for Reiss | 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 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    34%
  • Retired
    34%
  • Reverand
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    10%
  • Domestic Servant
    8%
  • Domestic
    4%

What Reiss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Reiss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reiss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Reiss

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Reiss. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Reiss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Reiss. For the veterans among your Reiss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reiss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reiss family history

Discover More

What is the average Reiss lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Reiss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Reiss in 1941 was 54, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reiss

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reiss 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 Reiss family tree

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