Neisser

Neisser is a German surname. The name is associated with science and has been borne by several notable individuals, as well as by the bacterial genus Neisseria, named after Albert Ludwig Neisser.

Albert Ludwig Neisser (1841–1916) was a German physician who, in 1879, described the gonococcus, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. The genus Neisseria is named in his honor and includes several species such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis; they are Gram-negative diplococci that colonize mucous membranes.

Ulric Neisser (1928–2012) was an American psychologist who helped establish cognitive psychology. His 1967 book Cognitive Psychology outlined the field's aims and methods, and his later work emphasized studying cognition in naturalistic settings, a perspective associated with ecological validity.

As a surname, Neisser is of German origin and is found among people of German heritage and in countries with German diaspora communities. The name is most commonly encountered in academic and scientific contexts due to the contributions of Albert Neisser in microbiology and Ulric Neisser in psychology.