Surname Iselin - Meaning and Origin

Iselin: What does the surname Iselin mean?

The last name Iselin is most likely of French origin. It is likely derived from the Latin “Isalinum,” which has evolved to become the French “Islen.” Within France, the name was most likely derived from a village or place name of the same spelling. This particular place name is generally thought to have originated from the Latin roots of “illa” and “salinum”, meaning “saline” or “salted”. From this, it is likely that the original settler of the name lived in or near a saline marsh or lake.

In modern day, the surname is used by families throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. In these countries, many Iselins can be found in regions along the eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as areas of the Appalachian Mountains.

It is also worth noting that the Iselin name has a few spelling variations, including Islin, Islen, and Iselyn. Despite these minor differences, it is likely they all hail from the same source.

Regardless of where Iselins may now reside, this last name is a testament to their ancestor’s resourcefulness and wit in finding a home next to a body of fresh water during a time when there was little knowledge of sanitation and hygiene.

Iselin: Where does the name Iselin come from?

The last name Iselin is most commonly found in Switzerland, as well as parts of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. In Switzerland, the name has been present since the medieval period, and is derived from the ancient parish of Iselen, located near the town of Altstätten in the canton of Saint Gallen. In Germany, Iselin is particularly common in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The name has also been found in the northeastern part of the United States, particularly in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, since the eighteenth century. According to records, the first Iselin family to settle in the US were French Huguenots, who arrived in 1710. Many Iselins also emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands and Switzerland during the 19th century, particularly during 1846-1875 when many Swiss Americans immigrated after the potato famine in Switzerland.

Today, Iselin is still a relatively common surname in the United States, particularly in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. There are also a few cases of Iselin living in other parts of the world, including Canada, Bulgaria, and India. The name is also quite common in Finland, where its spelling is Isohänninen.

Variations of the surname Iselin

Iselin is a German surname of Germanic origin and can be spelled in various different ways including Ixelin, Eissalin, Iselinn, Iselein and Iselen. It is often associated with the city of Iselingen located in the Rhine Valley and many of these variations stem from that. Furthermore, the name can be found in Dutch as Iselein and in English as Isslin or Eislin.

The surname Iselin is also related to names from Germany where it emerged from such as the Swiss variant Isalin and Irish variant Isling. Other variants include Isolin, Islen, Isley, and Isolene. All of these are historically attached to the Germanic United Tribes, and several parts of Europe including Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Iselin is a very popular surname in Germany, and it is also prevalent in the aforementioned countries and in some parts of America. The spelling of the name is believed to have been changed to Isalin, Eislin, and Isellin during the 17th century when people began to migrate to other parts of Europe and America.

As such, some of the variations of the surname Iselin are not only found in Germany but also in other countries that have adopted versions of the spelling. It is clear to see that this surname originated in Germany, however, it has spread and adapted to fit with other languages and cultures.

The Germanic surname Iselin is a common surname across Europe and America. Its various variants, spellings and surnames are clearly rooted in their Germanic and cultural origins. Despite this, it has come to represent a uniquely international legacy, as the variations of this name form a big part of the history of their respective countries.

Famous people with the name Iselin

• John Jacob Astor IV (American entrepreneur, real estate builder, investor, and a commissioner of the city’s Board of Health)
• Axa Iselin (Norwegian actress)
• Rolf Iselin (Australian actor, producer, and director)
• Roy Iselin (Swiss author and journalist)
• Mona Iselin (Norwegian children’s author)
• Gudrun Iselin (Danish teacher and writer)
• Christian Iselin (Swiss banker)
• Klaus Iselin (German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union party)
• Karl Iselin (German teacher and politician)
• Andreas Iselin (Swiss painter)
• Erich Iselin (German entomologist and botanist)
• Brigham Young Iselin (American financier and industrialist)
• Trond Iselin Veyhe (Norwegian sculptor and ceramist)
• Peer Iselin Storstein (Norwegian physicist and professor)
• Mark Iselin (American actor and director)
• Willy Iselin (Swiss Olympic sailor)
• Karl Adolph Iselin (Swiss zoologist and museum director)
• Eilif Iselin (Liechtenstein ski jumper and Olympic athlete)
• Christy Iselin (Swiss-Italian sculptor)
• Jobst Iselin (German entrepreneur and inventor)

Other surnames

Iseli