Issac History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The rich and ancient history of the Issac family name dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name Isaac. The surname Issac 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 Issac family

The surname Issac 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 Issac family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Issac 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 Issac History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Issac Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Isaacs, Isaac, Isaack, Isaacson, Izacke and others.

Early Notables of the Issac family

Notables of the family at this time include John Isaac of Bekesbourne, Sheriff of Kent in 1460. 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 appears to have been educated under the care of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, by whom he was sent to Pembroke Hall...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Issac Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Issac Ranking

In the United States, the name Issac is the 14,870^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Issac migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Issac Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Rebecca Issac, who landed in Maryland in 1670 9

Issac migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Issac Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Issac, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Contemporary Notables of the name Issac (post 1700) +

Henry Issac Rowntree (1837-1883), English founder of the Rowntree Chocolate Company in York, England in 1862
Abraham Issac Quintanilla Jr. (b. 1939), Mexican American singer-songwriter and record producer

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)