Surname Isen - Meaning and Origin
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Isen: What does the surname Isen mean?
The last name Isen is of German origin and comes from the Middle High German word "Isen" which means iron. This name was likely derived from the Germanic word isarn meaning "iron". As such, it is likely a occupational surname associated with iron workers, such as blacksmiths or metalworkers.
The surname Isen could have also derived from nicknames in the German language, such as the name Iron which was a nickname for a strong, powerful individual. It has likely been in use since the Middle Ages, with records of bearers of the surname being documented in the 11th century. The earliest known recording of this name was a clergeman named Heinricus de Isen recorded in 1193 in old Westphalian documents.
Today, the surname Isen is still common in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It is also established in North America and other parts of the world as German and Austrian immigrants continue to spread throughout the globe. Variations of the surname include Isin, Izen, Icen, Aisen, Isner and Eisen.
Order DNA origin analysisIsen: Where does the name Isen come from?
The last name Isen is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in California and the New York metropolitan area. According to a 2020 survey, it is the 2,118th most common last name in the United States with around 1,740 individuals with that name nationwide.
It is of Germanic or Dutch origin and believed to be derived from the German word for iron, "eisen". The name is also spelt with other variants like Issen, Issenmann, de Isen, Isent and Isentrager.
Isen is a relatively rare name across most of the world, primarily due to the fact that it is found nearly exclusively in Germanic countries. In Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, it is likely that the name is considerably more common than in the United States.
Among Jewish surname, Isen is fairly common, likely deriving from its German origin. It is often seen with a “-son” suffix indicating Jewish heritage.
Despite its rarity in much of the world, Isen is a relatively common last name across the United States. Its bearers can trace their roots back to Germany and other Germanic countries, as well as having a history within the larger Jewish community.
Variations of the surname Isen
The surname Isen is derived from the Olde English name Isen which is believed to be linked to a Norse personal name. It is found most commonly in England, Germany and Norway. Common variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Esen, Eissen, Iissen, Eissin, Iisin, Ison, Eesson, Esson, and Ison.
The meaning of the name Isen is ‘son of Ise’ or ‘son of the powerful one’. It is believed to derive from the old Teutonic personal name Ise, which may have been a short form of names such as Isengrim or Isenbard.
In England, the name may have arrived with the Anglo-Saxons from Germany or Scandinavia. It is also found in Germany, with the variant spelling Esen, and it is believed to have arrived in Norway with the Vikings.
In Norway, the surname is most common in the counties of Akershus, Telemark, Rogaland and Hordaland. The variant spelling Eissen and the patronymic forms Eissing and Eesson are also found in Norway and Germany.
Variants of Isen are found all over Europe, including Ireland and Scotland, as well as in North and South America, where it has been in existence for more than a century. In some cases, the spelling has been anglicized to Isa or Izsak.
The name Isen is also a Jewish surname, deriving from the Hebrew name Isaiah, which means ‘God is salvation.’
The surname also appears in some Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, where it is spelled Isen or Isän.
Famous people with the name Isen
- Sherry Isen, an American actress
- Peter Isen, a musician and composer
- Aaron Isen, an American professional basketball player
- Lise Isen, a Canadian professor and scientist
- Jesse Isen, an American musician
- Elan Isen, an American actress
- James Isen, an American actor
- Paul Isen, an American psychologist
- Greg Isen, an American film director and producer
- Richard Isen, an American psychologist
- Aaron Isen, an American chess player
- Rob Isen, an American writer and comedian
- Michael Isen, an American professor and computer scientist
- Joel Isen, an American professor and author
- Mark Isen, an American professor and author