Tim Walz, U.S. Vice Presidential candidate, has Luxembourgish ancestry through his great-great-grandfather, Nicolas Reiser, who emigrated from Kehlen.
An Intriguing Twist
As the U.S. election season intensifies, an intriguing detail about Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz has captured the attention of those with ties to Luxembourg. Walz, currently the Governor of Minnesota and running mate to Kamala Harris, has Luxembourgish heritage, a fact that has sparked interest both in the United States and Luxembourg.
Despite a relatively Germanic twang, the candidate’s Luxembourgish ancestors were not named Walz, which was not a common last name in Luxembourg. The Luxembourgish connection traces back to Tim Walz’s great-great-grandfather, Nicolas Reiser, who was born in Kehlen, Luxembourg, on January 1st, 1836. This ancestral link makes Walz approximately 12.5% Luxembourgish. Additionally, he is known to have German, Swedish and Irish roots.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Story Starts in Kehlen
The story of Nicolas Reiser is one familiar to many with European roots. At the age of 18, Reiser emigrated to the United States, seeking new opportunities in a growing nation. However, his ties to Luxembourg remained strong, as he returned to the Grand Duchy to marry Susanne Pütz, a woman from Septfontaines born on August 26th, 1841.
The couple eventually settled in the United States, where they built a large family, raising 12 children. One of their children, John Francis Reiser, continued the lineage that would eventually lead to Tim Walz. John Francis, in turn, had a daughter named Mary Helen Reiser, who became Walz’s grandmother.
The Birth Certificate of Nicolas Reiser (Source: National Archives of Luxembourg)
The Birth Certificate of Susanne Putz
And Ends Up In… Nebraska
Despite being the current Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz’s ancestor Nicolas Reiser spent his time in the United States in Nebraska. And Walz was born there as well, in Valentine, Nebraska. He moved to Minnesota after getting married and taking up a teaching role in Mankato.
So, despite Minnesota being the destination for many Luxembourgish emigrants and today a major percentage of the Luxembourg Dual Citizens living in the Americas, Tim Walz’s ancestor Nicolas Reiser was not one of the Luxembourgers to end up in Minnesota. While on the other hand, Walz has a similar profile to many of the Luxembourg descendents living in Minnesota today. While a huge number of Luxembourgers ended up in Minnesota in the 19th century, our own study shows that for the large number of Luxembourg Dual Citizens living in the state today, as many as 50% had ancestors that spent their time in the US in another state, generally in the Midwest (most typically Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois).
The Marriage Certificate of Nicolas Reiser and Suzanne Putz
Final Thoughts
Tim Walz’s Luxembourgish heritage underscores the enduring connections between Luxembourg and the United States. His story reflects the broader experience of many Luxembourgish-Americans, whose ancestors made the journey to the U.S. in search of better opportunities while maintaining strong ties to their roots. As Walz’s candidacy brings attention to this unique heritage, it also highlights the importance of understanding and preserving the histories that connect us across generations and borders.
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