Izod

This interesting and unusual name, with the variants Iz(z)ard, Izat(t), Izatson and Izod, is of Medieval French origin and is either from the female personal name "Iseult", or "Isolde", which is composed of the Germanic elements "is", ice, and "hild", battle, or the masculine personal name "Ishard", composed of the elements "is", ice and "hard", hardy strong. However it may also be a nickname surname from the Old Provencal (bouc) "Izar", mountain goat, given to someone with some fancied resemblance to the animal, or to a sprightly lively person. The following examples illustrate the name development, Robert Isaud (1316, Yorkshire), Thomas Isoude (1326, Fees), John Isot (1379 Yorkshire). Variant forms of the surname Izod include Issard, Iszatt, Izatt etc.. Amongst the recordings in London is one Randolph son of Anthonye and Anna Izod christened on March 27th 1664 at "St. Gregory by St. Paul". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Isolde, which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls", Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.