UK surname

Isik

A Turkish surname meaning light or illumination.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lambeth, Haringey and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Isik is 237 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2016

237 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Isik surname distribution map

The map shows where the Isik surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Isik surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Isik over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year	Period	Count	Rank
1997	modern	40	#33,666
1998	modern	38	#34,066
1999	modern	47	#33,320
2000	modern	53	#32,805
2001	modern	55	#32,482
2002	modern	75	#30,950
2003	modern	104	#27,101
2004	modern	112	#26,159
2005	modern	124	#24,529
2006	modern	137	#23,270
2007	modern	148	#22,406
2008	modern	148	#22,627
2009	modern	173	#20,869
2010	modern	197	#19,640
2011	modern	197	#19,483
2012	modern	230	#17,479
2013	modern	228	#17,864
2014	modern	231	#17,813
2015	modern	233	#17,627
2016	modern	237	#17,418

Geography

Where Isiks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lambeth, Haringey, Hackney, Scarborough and Enfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank	Parish	Area
1	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Lambeth 011	Lambeth
2	Haringey 032	Haringey
3	Hackney 016	Hackney
4	Scarborough 006	Scarborough
5	Enfield 007	Enfield

Forenames

First names often paired with Isik

These lists show first names that appear often with the Isik surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Yasemin Melissa Fatma Serpil Sibel Serap Karen Elif Jacqueline Gulay

Recent male names

Mehmet Erol Ali Ayhan Metin Kemal Mustafa Zeki Ibrahim Serdar

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Isik

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Isik, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Isik surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Isik household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Isik is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Isik is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Isik falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Isik is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Isik, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Isik

The surname Isik originated in Turkey and is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "isik," which means "light" or "brightness." It is a relatively common surname in modern-day Turkey, particularly in the western and central regions of the country.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Isik can be traced back to the late 15th century, during the Ottoman Empire's reign. Some historical records suggest that the name was initially used as a descriptive title or nickname for individuals who possessed a bright or radiant personality or appearance.

In the late 16th century, the Isik surname appeared in several Ottoman tax registers and census documents, indicating that it had become an established family name during this period. These records often included variations in spelling, such as "Ishik" or "Ishyk," reflecting the diverse dialects and regional variations in the Turkish language.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Isik was Mehmet Isik, a renowned Ottoman poet and scholar who lived in the 17th century. His works, including a collection of poems titled "Divan-i Isik," are considered important contributions to the literary heritage of the Ottoman Empire.

Another prominent individual with the Isik surname was Hasan Isik, a 19th-century Ottoman military commander and statesman. He played a significant role in the modernization efforts of the Ottoman Empire and served as the governor of several provinces, including Damascus and Baghdad.

In the 20th century, Mustafa Isik emerged as a prominent figure in Turkish politics. Born in 1919, he served as the Minister of National Education and later became the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey in the 1960s and 1970s. His contributions to education reform and modernization efforts in Turkey have been widely recognized.

Cevdet Isik, born in 1924, was a renowned Turkish writer and journalist. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of ordinary people in Turkey. His works, such as "The Village Institution" and "Nights of Hunger," are considered influential in Turkish literature.

Another notable figure with the Isik surname is Huseyin Isik, a Turkish academic and philosopher who lived in the 20th century. He was a prominent scholar in the fields of ethics, epistemology, and logic, and his writings have significantly influenced contemporary philosophical discourse in Turkey.

While the surname Isik has its roots in Turkey, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchanges. Today, individuals with the surname Isik can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of this centuries-old Turkish name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Isik surname: questions and answers

How common is the Isik surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Isik a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Isik surname mean?

A Turkish surname meaning light or illumination.

What does the Isik map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Isik bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.