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

Isely, 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 Isely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isely in America

Isely is the 65244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isely surname appeared 304 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 Isely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isely 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 Isely

The surname ISELY has its origins in Switzerland, where it first emerged in the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "isil," meaning "iron," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have been blacksmiths or workers in the iron trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Swiss village of Iseltwald, located on the shores of Lake Brienz. This location, whose name translates to "Isely's Village," is thought to have been established by early settlers bearing the ISELY surname.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the ISELY name appeared in various Swiss records and documents, such as parish registers and tax rolls. One notable individual from this period was Hans Isely (1522-1589), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bern.

As the ISELY family grew and dispersed, variations in spelling began to emerge, including Isely, Iseley, Iselie, and Ysely. In the 18th century, Johann Isely (1703-1776) was a respected theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects.

During the 19th century, several members of the ISELY family made their mark in various fields. Jacob Isely (1818-1892) was a influential educator and school administrator in Pennsylvania, while William Isely (1827-1901) was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Ohio.

Another notable figure was Charles Isely (1858-1932), a celebrated botanist and taxonomist who made significant contributions to the study of plant species in the western United States. His extensive research led to the discovery and classification of numerous new plant varieties.

As the 20th century dawned, the ISELY name continued to be represented in various professions and endeavors. Alice Isely (1901-1988) was a pioneering aviator and one of the first women to earn a commercial pilot's license in the United States.

Throughout its long history, the ISELY surname has maintained a strong presence, with bearers making their mark in diverse fields ranging from commerce and education to science and exploration. While its origins can be traced back to the iron-working communities of medieval Switzerland, the name has since spread far beyond its humble beginnings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isely

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

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

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

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