| ![Show Contents]() Isitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient surname Isitt came from The surname Isitt is a patronymic surname, that is, derived from an ancestor's given name. Patronymic surnames belong to the category of hereditary surnames, and they arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin and often have cognates in other European countries. In this case, family tradition has it that the name is derived from the name Isolde, the wife of Tristram, nephew of the King of Cornwall, of the great Arthurian legends. According to the family tradition, Tristram escaped to Brittany, where he married Isolde, daughter of the Duke of Brittany. Their tragic love affair became the subject of the opera Tristan and Isolde by Wagner. On the other hand, it seems more likely that the name is derived from the Old German word ishild, which meant ice battle. Early Origins of the Isitt familyThe surname Isitt was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from ancient times, being granted lands in that shire soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Traditionally, the family was descended from Isolde, daughter of the Duke of Brittany in the fifth century who later became the wife of Tristram, of the great Arthurian legends, nephew of the King of Cornwall. Tristram escaped to Brittany and their tragic love affair became the subject of an opera by Wagner. Early History of the Isitt familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Isitt research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1569, 1577, 1599, 1645, 1695 and 1785 are included under the topic Early Isitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Isitt Spelling VariationsSince the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules, Breton surnames have many spelling variations. Latin and French, which were the official court languages, were also influential on the spelling of surnames. The spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. Therefore, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England after the Norman Conquest, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. The name has been spelled Izzat, Izat, Izatt, Issard, Isoed, Izzatt, Izzard, Izod, Essarts, Isett and many more. Early Notables of the Isitt familyMore information is included under the topic Early Isitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Isitt family to Ireland
Some of the Isitt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Isitt migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Isitt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. George Isitt, (b. 1812), aged 31, English baker who was convicted in Northamptonshire, England for 14 years for stealing transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1872 1
| Isitt 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: Isitt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- F. W. Isitt, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1870
- Miss Isitt, English settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dunfillan" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 16th January 1874 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Isitt (post 1700) | + |
- Kate Isitt (b. 1961), English actress, known for Coupling (2000), The Saint (1997) and Half Light (2006)
- Debbie Isitt, English director and writer
- Air Marshall Sir Leonard Isitt, Company Chairman, Wellington, New Zealand
- Rev Frank Isitt (1843-1916), New Zealand Methodist minister
- Sir Leonard Monk Isitt (1891-1976), New Zealand military aviator/administrator
- Rev Leonard Monk Isitt (1855-1937), New Zealand Methodist minister and politician
- Ben Isitt (b. 1978), Canadian historian
| Historic Events for the Isitt family | + |
- Mr. James Isitt, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 3
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Isitt migration to Australia 
Isitt migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
