In September of 2014 the two men in this project who can connect their lineage to brothers' Frederick and Jacob Isett of Pennsylvania, finally had a yDNA match with a man from Germany. This man's family has a long history in Germany. He explained that at the time Frederick and Jacob Isett emigrated to America, surnames were relatively new in Germany. When families first began using surnames they might use their mother's first name, their occupation, the city where they were residing, etc. Siblings did not necessarily use the same surname. This match suggested that perhaps the Isett surname derived from the female name of 'Ysette'. 

This is a huge breakthrough for this lineage and I believe it clarifies that the Isett's that arrived in America in 1732, can trace their origins to Germany.

Bonnie Isett Gorman 16 Feb 2015

Older notes:

I recently became aware that both the Isett’s and the Isacks’ were passing down the same family story-“Widow Barbara Isacks/Isett arriving in America in 1732 with her two sons, Frederick and Jacob”, and residing in Pennsylvania. Can we both be right? Is neither of us correct? There is some indication that at some point in history the Isacks name became Isett. I am hopeful that DNA testing may help us to sort this out. Note May 29, 2012-There have been no matches between any Isett line or Isacks. Therefore, it would be safe to conclude that the names Isacks and Isett are not variants of each other.

 I have always thought that there were four main lines of Isett's in America, all originating in Pennsylvania in the 1700's. One line emigrated to Iowa, one to Kansas then Texas, one to Maryland, and one stayed in Pennsylvania (many of those Isett's were in Montgomery County or Huntingdon County).

The Isacks family believe they descend from Jacob C. Isacks, a politician in Tennessee in the early 1800’s. Jacob C. Isacks was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Researchers in the 1950’s believed that Jacob C. Isacks was related to Frederick and Jacob Isett. Note-May 29, 2012-yDNA testing has shown that they are not connected through their paternal line, it could still be possible that they are connected through a maternal line.

I invite you to share in this exciting new avenue of research. Please contact me with any questions you may have at bonniekgorman@comcast.net.

Thank you for your interest in this surname project.  

Bonnie Isett Gorman