* As a German and Alemannic German surname, from Middle High German reisære (“horseback warrior”) (compare Reise (“journey”)).
* As a south German surname for someone who lived near a thicket, probably related to Reis, compare Riser and Rieser.
* Also as a south German surname, variant of Reisser, occupational surname for a woodcutter, from Middle High German rīsser, possibly related to the noun meaning twig or brushwood.
* As a Jewish surname, from Reise (“journey”) or Reis (“twig, rice”).