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The ancestors of the Issac family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the personal name Isaac. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Isaac or Mac Iosaig, both of which mean son of Isaac. 1
The surname Issac was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records of the family was in 1476 when "the lands of Ardere in the barony of Clastray were resigned by Mariot, daughter of Molmoria M'Kesek." 1
Spelling variations for the family are quite varied: Mackessack, Mackissack, Mackissock, Mackissek, Makesaig (1592), Makkessake (1591), McKisack (1684) and many more.
In 1496, Donald Makessaig was recorded at Kilmun and he is probably the Donald McEsayg recorded in 1511. "John M'Intheir was convicted in 1623 for letting M'Keissik's 'bairnis the for hunger' in Breadalbane (BRT., p. 379 -there was probably a famine). Marion MacKissock was resident in the parish of Boyne, 1684, Elspet M'Kissick in Relliclone, parish of Madertie, 1658 (Dunkeld)." 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Issac research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1685 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Issac History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Historical recordings of the name Issac include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacIsaac, MacIsaack, Kissock and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Issac Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Issac is the 14,870th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2
Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Issac or a variant listed above:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: