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

Işık, 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 Işık surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Işık in America

Işık is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Işık surname appeared 241 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 Işık.

We can also compare 2010 data for Işık 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 Işık

The surname Isik originated in Turkey and is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "isik," which means "light" or "brightness." It is a relatively common surname in modern-day Turkey, particularly in the western and central regions of the country.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Isik can be traced back to the late 15th century, during the Ottoman Empire's reign. Some historical records suggest that the name was initially used as a descriptive title or nickname for individuals who possessed a bright or radiant personality or appearance.

In the late 16th century, the Isik surname appeared in several Ottoman tax registers and census documents, indicating that it had become an established family name during this period. These records often included variations in spelling, such as "Ishik" or "Ishyk," reflecting the diverse dialects and regional variations in the Turkish language.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Isik was Mehmet Isik, a renowned Ottoman poet and scholar who lived in the 17th century. His works, including a collection of poems titled "Divan-i Isik," are considered important contributions to the literary heritage of the Ottoman Empire.

Another prominent individual with the Isik surname was Hasan Isik, a 19th-century Ottoman military commander and statesman. He played a significant role in the modernization efforts of the Ottoman Empire and served as the governor of several provinces, including Damascus and Baghdad.

In the 20th century, Mustafa Isik emerged as a prominent figure in Turkish politics. Born in 1919, he served as the Minister of National Education and later became the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey in the 1960s and 1970s. His contributions to education reform and modernization efforts in Turkey have been widely recognized.

Cevdet Isik, born in 1924, was a renowned Turkish writer and journalist. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of ordinary people in Turkey. His works, such as "The Village Institution" and "Nights of Hunger," are considered influential in Turkish literature.

Another notable figure with the Isik surname is Huseyin Isik, a Turkish academic and philosopher who lived in the 20th century. He was a prominent scholar in the fields of ethics, epistemology, and logic, and his writings have significantly influenced contemporary philosophical discourse in Turkey.

While the surname Isik has its roots in Turkey, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchanges. Today, individuals with the surname Isik can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of this centuries-old Turkish name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Işık

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

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

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

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