Surname Isherwood - Meaning and Origin
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Isherwood: What does the surname Isherwood mean?
The last name Isherwood is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname meaning 'belonging to the town of Isherwood'. The town is believed to have been located in the county of Cheshire, England.
The surname probably emerged in the 12th century. During this time, it was common for people to take on the name of the area in which they lived as a surname. This was done to identify themselves and their progeny with a particular region.
There are various etymologies for the origin of the Isherwood surname. One of them is that Isherwood derived from a combination of the Old English word 'ischer', meaning 'ash-tree', and 'wudu', meaning 'wood'. This would mean that someone was from a place where there were a lot of ash trees.
Another theory suggests that Isherwood is derived from the individuals who lived near the Iser River which ran through the Cheshire area. The name of the river may have been altered over the centuries, and ‘Iser’ became ‘Isher’ and then ‘Isherwood’ over time.
The Isherwood family name is increasingly prominent in England today. Surnames originating from England are of early medieval origin. They emerged as a way to distinguish and identify people as populations grew in size. As such, some Isherwoods now inhabit regions from all corners of the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisIsherwood: Where does the name Isherwood come from?
The last name Isherwood is most common in the United Kingdom and is still found in large numbers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It also appears in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. The last name has its origins in England, and is derived from the Old Norse name “Ishfari” – meaning “iron forest”.
In England, the Isherwood surname is most highly concentrated in the Greater Manchester area, where there are over 2,000 people with the surname living. Similarly high concentrations are also found in Essex, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, and Shropshire.
The surname is well established in the United States, where the 2010 US Census recorded around 16,600 people with the last name. It is spread most widely through the Eastern seaboard states such as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and is also common in Texas and California.
Canadians and Australians can trace their Isherwood ancestry to the first settlers who moved to these countries during the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. This surname is also found in small numbers in New Zealand and South Africa, where it was adopted by migrants of British descent.
Variations of the surname Isherwood
The surname Isherwood is of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian origin. It may have originally been derived from the Old English personal name Eadweard, which is composed of the elements ead, meaning "rich or happy", and weard, meaning "guardian". It is also believed to be linked to the Old Norse personal name Asgeir, which is composed of the elements as, meaning "god" and geirr, meaning "spear".
Variants, spellings and derivatives of the surname Isherwood may include Iserwood, Isarwood, Iserwoood, Isard, Iser, Iserard, Ishaber, Iserham, Esard, Isar, Iserhard, Iserrett, Escombe, Assirwood, Isserwood, Asserwood, Aisherwood and Isherman.
In addition, Isherwood may have developed into the surnames Ashworth, Askwood, Husherwood and Hesterwood. These surnames are all believed to have evolved through a series of sound changes that took place over time.
The surname Isherwood is still common in certain parts of the world, particularly in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It also has been found in other parts of Europe, including Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Today, the surname Isherwood may be found in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, as well as in some parts of Asia.
Famous people with the name Isherwood
- Chris Isherwood: an English actor, who is best known for his roles in films like "Atonement" (2007), "Into the Wild" (2007) and "Alice in Wonderland" (2008).
- Christopher Isherwood: an English-American novelist, playwright and screenwriter, who is best known for writing novels such as "Goodbye to Berlin" (1939) and "The Berlin Stories" (1945).
- William Gladstone Isherwood: an Australian politician and inventor who was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1889 to 1892, and later served as the Mayor of Manly from 1895 to 1896.
- William Isherwood: an English composer of sacred music, best known for his contribution to Anglican liturgy, specifically through his composition of the widely used 'Mass of St. Thomas of Canterbury'.
- Edmund Isherwood: an English cricketer and army officer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club between 1845 and 1853.
- Helen Isherwood: an American ultrarunner and mountaineer, who is best known for her 2017 ascent of Mount Everest.
- Jeff Isherwood: an English footballer known for playing with Sheffield Wednesday from 1985 to 1995.
- Wilfrid Isherwood: an English footballer who played for several clubs in the early 20th century, most notably Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.
- Sergei Isherwood:a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer who was a leading figure in 19th century classical ballet, having spent 53 years at the Imperial Russian Ballet.
- Ernie Isherwood: an English footballer who made over 260 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and was also a manager of Cambridge City between 1948 and 1957.