Izzard Family History

English:: from the Middle English and Old French female personal name Iseld, Iseut, Isalt, Isaut, Isolde, Isoud, a French adaptation of Old Cornish Eselt ‘looked up to admired’. Its currency in post-Conquest England derived from the legend of Tristan and Isolde, Cornish versions of which gained huge popularity in medieval Europe through romantic retellings by German, French, and Anglo-Norman writers.

From the Middle English female personal name Isot, itself a pet form of Iseld, Isold, names formerly but incorrectly identified as a hypothetical ancient Germanic Ishild(is) developing to Isheld, Ishaut and Isholt.

The surname Izzard shows post-medieval substitution of -ard in the final syllable of Middle English Iso(u)d (see 1 above) or Isot, influenced by the pattern of variation in names like Gillard, Gillett, and Gillott or Garrard, Garrod, and Garrett, where in many instances the final -ard is original.

Compare Ezzard, Isard, Isitt, Izard, and Izatt.