Izzard

This interesting and unusual name 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. Variants in the idiom of the spelling include Iz(z)ard, Izzett, Izat(t), Is(s)ard, Issett, Issit(t) and Isso(l)t. The following examples illustrate the name development, Robert Isaud (1316, Yorkshire), Thomas Isoude (1326, Fees), John Isot (1379 Yorkshire). Amongst the recordings in London is one Eliza Izzard, christened January 16th 1647 at St. Giles, Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Isolde, which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls of 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.