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

Isbister, 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 Isbister surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isbister in America

Isbister is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isbister surname appeared 201 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 Isbister.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isbister 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 Isbister

The surname Isbister is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the Shetland Islands, an archipelago located in the Northern Isles of Scotland. The name is believed to have derived from the Old Norse words "iss" meaning ice and "bolstadr" meaning a dwelling or farm, suggesting a connection to a homestead or settlement situated in a cold, icy region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Isbister can be found in the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative from the 13th century that chronicles the lives of the earls of Orkney. This ancient text mentions Isbister as a location on the Shetland Islands, indicating that the surname likely originated from this place name.

During the medieval period, the Isbister family gained prominence in the Shetland Islands, with several members holding positions of influence and power. One notable figure was Laurence Isbister, who lived in the late 15th century and served as the Bailie of Lerwick, a prominent administrative role in the town.

In the 16th century, the name Isbister began to spread beyond the Shetland Islands as members of the family migrated to other parts of Scotland and eventually to other countries. One such individual was Robert Isbister, born in 1597, who settled in Caithness, a county in the Scottish Highlands.

As the centuries progressed, the Isbister name appeared in various historical records, including parish registers, census records, and military rolls. One prominent bearer of the name was Sir James Isbister (1776-1844), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1833 to 1836.

Another notable figure was Alexander Kennedy Isbister (1822-1883), a Scottish-Canadian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1877 to 1883. He played a significant role in the early development of the province and is remembered for his efforts in promoting education and reconciliation between different cultural groups.

In the realm of literature, the name Isbister is associated with James Isbister (1881-1957), a Scottish poet and writer who was known for his works celebrating the beauty of the Shetland Islands and the lives of its people.

Throughout history, the surname Isbister has been recorded with various spellings, including Isbister, Isbuster, and Isbyster, reflecting the linguistic variations and regional influences of the time. However, the core essence of the name, rooted in the icy dwellings of the Shetland Islands, has endured across generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isbister

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

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

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

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