| IJsbrand | |
| Alternative Spelling: | IJsbrandt, IJsbrant, Ysbrand(t), Ysbrant, Eisbrand(t), Isbrand |
| Gender: | Male |
| Meaning: | "Iron sword" |
| Region: | Netherlands |
| Language: | Old Dutch |
| Related Names: | IJsbert, IJsbrecht, IJzerman |
IJsbrand is a Dutch male given name of late Old Dutch or early Middle Dutch origins. The first syllable, "eis" (or ijs/ys), is derived from the old West Germanic word for iron. The second syllable, "brand" (or brandt), means fire but was traditionally also used as kenning for sword. The NRC birth registry thus suggests the meaning "iron sword".[1]
The name is at least as old as the 12th century, when it was a distinguished name for the Lords of Haarlem. The Old Dutch name was also attested in a Latinized form before 1200. After it had caught on as a common given name, IJsbrand remained popular throughout Dutch history and up to the present day.
According to the figures of the, the organization that implements national insurance schemes in the Netherlands, the year 2009 saw the name IJsbrand given to 4 newborn boys in The Netherlands; in the same year the alternative spelling Ysbrand had a count of 5. The Meertens Institute database of given names in the Netherlands reports a total of 1687 people with the spelling IJsbrand[2] and 321 with the spelling Ysbrand[3] as first or middle name, with other spellings occurring with 25 or fewer counts.