The Adler family is apparently largely identical with the Schwarzadler family, and is documented in the Frankfurt Jewish community as early as the late 16th century. Little is known for certain about their origins. Alexander Dietz believes that they may be an offshoot of the extensive Cahn family. Among other houses the family lived at the Schwarzadler, which is the origin of their name. At first the Adler/Schwarzadler family did not rank as one of the wealthy Frankfurt Jewish families. However, during the 18th century the widow of Feist Adler made a substantial bequest to a charitable cause: although no details are now known the amount was 15,000 guilders, a considerable sum at the time. During the 18th and early 19th century the family produced several prominent rabbis who were active in Hanover and England, where they won considerable respect.