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

Isen, 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 Isen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isen in America

Isen is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isen surname appeared 160 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 Isen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isen 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 Isen

The surname "Isen" has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "isen," meaning "iron" or "iron worker." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to those who worked with iron or were blacksmiths.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where an entry from 1587 mentions a "Hans Isen." This indicates that the name was already in use during the late 16th century in the southern region of Germany.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various church records and municipal documents across Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. For example, a baptismal record from 1642 in Heidelberg lists a child named "Johann Isen," son of a local tradesman.

As the name spread throughout German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Eisen," "Eisen," and "Eysen." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and differences in pronunciation.

While not a particularly common name, there are several notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname "Isen." One such figure was Johann Isen (1677-1759), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

Another notable bearer of the name was Karl Isen (1835-1904), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin, including the Berliner Rathaus (City Hall) and the Reichsbank (Imperial Bank).

In the 19th century, the name also appeared in the United States. One early American with the surname was Friedrich Isen (1802-1876), a German immigrant who settled in Ohio and became a prominent farmer and landowner.

Additionally, there was Gustav Isen (1848-1922), a German-born American painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and depictions of Native American life in the American West.

The name "Isen" also has connections to place names. For instance, there is a town called Isen in Bavaria, which may have influenced the development of the surname in that region.

Overall, the surname "Isen" has a rich history rooted in German culture and tradition, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 16th century and possibly being an occupational name related to iron working.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isen

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

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

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

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