2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Isic
A surname potentially derived from the Old Slavic word "isici" meaning "to seek".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 119 Americans carry the last name Isic. That puts it at #153,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,880,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Isic surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
119
1 in 2,880,289
Census rank
#153,590
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Isic in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Isic, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.8%) and Black (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Isic
The surname ISIC has its roots firmly planted in the rich cultural tapestry of Croatia, dating back to the medieval era. Its origins can be traced to the coastal regions of the Adriatic Sea, where many families bore variations of this name, such as Isich, Isich, and Isic. The name is believed to have derived from the ancient Croatian word "isic," meaning "to arise" or "to emerge," potentially alluding to the family's origins or a significant event in their history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the ISIC surname can be found in the Dubrovnik Archives, a treasure trove of historical documents from the Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik). In the late 15th century, a merchant named Marko Isic was documented as trading goods along the Mediterranean trade routes, indicating the family's involvement in commerce at the time.
As the centuries unfolded, the ISIC name continued to make its mark in various spheres of Croatian society. In the 16th century, a nobleman named Nikola Isic was noted for his service in the military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire, defending the coastal regions from invasion. His bravery and leadership were celebrated in local chronicles, solidifying the family's reputation for valor.
The 17th century saw the rise of Ivan Isic, a renowned scholar and theologian who authored several influential works on religious philosophy. His treatises were widely read and debated, cementing his place as a prominent intellectual figure of his time.
In the artistic realm, the 18th century witnessed the emergence of Ana Isic, a talented painter whose exquisite portraits and landscapes captured the beauty of the Dalmatian coast. Her works adorned the walls of noble households and earned her recognition among the cultural elite of the era.
As the 19th century dawned, the ISIC name gained further prominence with the birth of Petar Isic, a pioneering engineer who played a pivotal role in the development of Croatia's infrastructure. His innovative designs for bridges and roads paved the way for modern transportation networks, leaving an indelible mark on the country's landscape.
Throughout its rich history, the ISIC surname has been woven into the fabric of Croatian society, leaving an enduring legacy across various fields and epochs. From merchants and military leaders to scholars and artists, the name has remained a symbol of resilience, creativity, and contribution to the nation's cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Isic
Among Census respondents with the surname Isic, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.8%) and Black (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Isic bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Isic surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2% · 98
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.8% · 4
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Isic
Isic appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#153,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
+3 bearers (+3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 6,122 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #153,590 | 104 | 0.03 | +3 bearers (+3.0%) | Up 6,122 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Isic surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #159,712 | #153,590 | 3.8% |
| Count | 101 | 104 | 3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 16.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Isic bearers went from 101 to 104 (+3.0% change). The surname moved up 6,122 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #153,590.
FAQ
Isic surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Isic?
Name Census estimates that about 119 living Americans carry the surname Isic. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,880,289 residents.
How common is Isic?
Isic ranks #153,590 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 104 people with the surname Isic. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Isic.
Has Isic become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Isic went from 101 recorded bearers to 104. That is an increase of 3 (+3.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #153,590.
What does the Census say about the background of Isic?
Among Census respondents with the surname Isic, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.8%) and Black (1.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Isic in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.2% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Isic appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3.8%), Black (1.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Isic (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Isic mean?
A surname potentially derived from the Old Slavic word "isici" meaning "to seek". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Isic (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Isic?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.