Find out how popular the last name Isabell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Isabell.

Isabell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Isabell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isabell in America

Isabell is the 17104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isabell surname appeared 1,659 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Isabell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isabell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Isabell

The surname Isabell is believed to have originated from the medieval English given name Isabel, which itself came from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath." This name gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages after being brought back from the Holy Land by returning crusaders.

The earliest known record of the surname Isabell dates back to the late 12th century in England. One notable early bearer was Richard Isabell, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1190. The name also appeared in various spellings such as Ysabelle and Isabelle in medieval English records and manuscripts.

In Scotland, the Isabell surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded examples is William Isabell, who witnessed a charter granted by Alexander III in 1263. The name may have been introduced to Scotland by Norman-French settlers or through the influence of the English royal court.

During the medieval period, the Isabell surname was often associated with place names, particularly in England. For instance, the Isabell family held lands in Isabelham, a hamlet near Laxfield in Suffolk, which may have contributed to the surname's development.

Notable historical figures with the surname Isabell include:

1. John Isabell (c. 1470-1518), an English clergyman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor.

2. Edward Isabell (c. 1550-1620), an English merchant and explorer who was one of the early settlers of Virginia Colony in North America.

3. Mary Isabell (c. 1590-1660), a Scottish woman accused of witchcraft during the notorious North Berwick Witch Trials in 1590.

4. William Isabell (c. 1620-1680), an English naval officer who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and was eventually promoted to the rank of Admiral.

5. Robert Isabell (c. 1700-1780), a Scottish architect and stonemason known for his work on several churches and castles in the Highlands.

While the surname Isabell may have evolved from different regional variations and spellings, it ultimately traces its origins to the medieval English form of the Hebrew name Elisheva, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences that shaped many European surnames over centuries of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isabell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Isabell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Isabell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Isabell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Isabell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Isabell, please contact us.

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