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

Israelsen, 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 Israelsen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Israelsen in America

Israelsen is the 71042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Israelsen surname appeared 275 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 Israelsen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Israelsen 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 Israelsen

The surname Israelsen originated in Denmark and is a patronymic name derived from the Hebrew name Israel, meaning "he who struggles with God." It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when Jewish communities began to establish themselves in various parts of Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Israelsen can be found in the Danish Census of 1787, which lists several individuals bearing this surname in the regions of Jutland and Zealand. It is believed that these early Israelsens were descendants of Jewish immigrants who had settled in Denmark during the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 19th century, the Israelsen name began to spread beyond Denmark's borders as families sought new opportunities and fled persecution. Notable individuals from this period include Isak Israelsen (1811-1892), a Norwegian merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the development of the whaling industry in the Arctic region.

As the 20th century dawned, the Israelsen name continued to gain prominence. Hans Israelsen (1890-1976), a Danish sculptor and ceramicist, was renowned for his innovative work in the field of modern design. His creations can be found in several prestigious museums and galleries around the world.

Another notable figure was Niels Israelsen (1907-1982), a Danish-American physicist and inventor who made groundbreaking contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II. His work played a crucial role in the Allied victory and earned him numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In more recent times, the Israelsen name has been carried forward by individuals such as Kristian Israelsen (1956-present), a Danish writer and journalist whose works have explored themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience.

While the Israelsen surname originated in Denmark, it has since spread across the globe, with families of this lineage now residing in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Despite its geographic dispersion, the name continues to carry the legacy of its Hebrew roots and the struggles and triumphs of those who have borne it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Israelsen

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

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

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

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