Show ContentsIsaacson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Isaacson is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Isaac. The surname Isaacson referred to the son of Isaac which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "yishaq" meaning "laughter." [1]

The first record of the name in ancient Britain was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Isac was listed. [2] "This, as a baptismal name, was introduced about the time of the Conquest. One Isac appears as a chief tenant in Domesday Book." [3]

"Hundreds of English people bear one or other of these surnames in whose veins there flows not a single drop of Jewish blood." [4]

Early Origins of the Isaacson family

The surname Isaacson was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. From this early entry, the name in both forename and surname forms became widespread with many early spellings. Willelmus (William) filius Ysac was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1206; Henry Isaac was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcester in 1275, and Walter Isak in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. [5] [6]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Robert filius Isaac, Lincolnshire; Isaac Judxus (the Jew), Yorkshire; Johannes Isaak, Norfolk; and John Ysac, Oxfordshire. [4]

In Scotland, "the name was not uncommon among ecclesiastics in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Isaac was prior of Scone from 1154 till 1162, and Magister Isaac was a cleric of St. Andrews, 1201. Ysaac of Brechin was a charter witness there c. 1178-98, and Ysaac de Banevin (Benvie) was one of a jury regarding the Kirketun of Aberbuthenoth, 1205." [7]

Early History of the Isaacson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Isaacson research. Another 372 words (27 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1203, 1214, 1231, 1242, 1260, 1300, 1358, 1405, 1447, 1448, 1460, 1569, 1581, 1617, 1624, 1626, 1645, 1653, 1654, 1662, 1665, 1671, 1693 and 1698 are included under the topic Early Isaacson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Isaacson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Isaacson have been found, including Isaacs, Isaac, Isaack, Isaacson, Izacke and others.

Early Notables of the Isaacson family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Henry Isaacson (1581-1654), was an English theologian and chronologer, born in the parish of St. Catherine, Coleman Street, London, in September 1581, and was the eldest son of Richard Isaacson. "He a...

Isaacson Ranking

In the United States, the name Isaacson is the 3,951st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [8]


United States Isaacson migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Isaacson, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Isaacson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Isaacson, aged 28, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 [9]
  • Gustavo Isaacson, who arrived in Arkansas in 1869 [9]
  • Eason Isaacson, who landed in Arkansas in 1882 [9]
  • Julius Isaacson, who arrived in Arkansas in 1894 [9]
  • And. Isaacson, aged 18, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1897
Isaacson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Aaron Isaacson, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1903
  • Abraham Isaacson, aged 24, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1905
  • Bessie Isaacson, aged 26, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1905
  • Celena Isaacson, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, in 1905
  • Amilia Isaacson, aged 3, who settled in America from London, in 1906
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Isaacson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Isaacson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Richard Isaacson, aged 30, a shoemaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"

New Zealand Isaacson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Isaacson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Isaacson, aged 30, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Isaacson (post 1700) +

  • Walter Isaacson FRSA (b. 1952), American writer and journalist, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute
  • Henry Thorpe Beal Isaacson (1898-1970), American leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1970
  • Megan Isaacson, American Gospel Music Association Award winning Christian and Gospel singer
  • Jacob Isaacson (1911-1980), American composer and musician
  • Douglas W. "Doug" Isaacson (b. 1957), American politician, Member of the Alaska House of Representatives (2013-), Mayor of North Pole, Alaska (2006-2012)
  • Clayton M. Isaacson, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • Stephen Isaacson (1798-1849), English miscellaneous writer, born on 17 Feb. 1798, at the Oaks, Cowlinge, Suffolk, son of Robert Isaacson, auctioneer, of Cowlinge, and afterwards of Moulton, Suffolk [10]
  • James Isaacson (b. 1980), English rugby union footballer from Easington, County Durham who played from 1998 to 2007
  • Peter Stuart Isaacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM (1920-2017), English-born, Australian publisher of the Southern Cross and the Sunday Observer in Melbourne and decorated military pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  10. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 26 October 2020


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