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

Isabella, 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 Isabella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isabella in America

Isabella is the 22733rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isabella surname appeared 1,127 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Isabella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isabella 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 Isabella

The surname ISABELLA has its origins in medieval Italy, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian form of the Hebrew name "Elizabeth," meaning "consecrated to God." The name gained widespread popularity due to its association with the influential House of Aragon, a prominent royal family that ruled various parts of Spain and the Mediterranean region during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ISABELLA can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Siciliano, a collection of medieval documents from Sicily. In these records, the name appears as "Ysabella" or "Ysabelle," reflecting the spelling variations common in that era. The surname likely originated among noble families in southern Italy and Sicily, where the Aragonese influence was particularly strong.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the ISABELLA surname gained prominence in Catalonia and the Kingdom of Aragon. Historical records, such as the Llibre de Privilegis de la Ciutat de València (Book of Privileges of the City of Valencia), mention several individuals bearing this surname, often associated with positions of authority or wealth.

Notable figures with the surname ISABELLA include Isabella d'Este (1474-1539), a renowned Renaissance patron of the arts and the Marchioness of Mantua; Isabella of Aragon (1470-1524), a Spanish noblewoman and the Duchess of Milan; and Isabella of Portugal (1397-1471), a Portuguese princess who became the Queen of Burgundy.

In the 16th century, the ISABELLA surname also appeared in England, likely brought by Italian merchants or immigrants. One notable example is Isabella Cortese (1561-1634), an Italian Renaissance poet and scholar who spent part of her life in England.

As the surname spread throughout Europe, it took on various spellings and regional variations, such as Isabelle, Ysabelle, and Ysabella. Over time, it became associated with prestigious families and individuals of significant historical importance, reflecting the enduring legacy of the name's origins in medieval Italy and the influential House of Aragon.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isabella

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

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 Isabella 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 Isabella 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 Isabella was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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