Fuel compositions containing an isomerized component of a single carbon number may contain at least 97 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fuel composition, of an isomerized component consisting of aliphatic paraffin isomers all having the formula CnH2n+2, where 10≦n≦22 and n has the same value for each aliphatic paraffin isomer in the isomerized component. The fuel compositions have a normal alkane content of less than 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fuel composition. Methods for preparing the fuel compositions include hydroisomerizing a normal alkane starting material to form an isomerized mixture and subsequently removing remnant normal alkanes from the isomerized mixture by solvent dewaxing and/or distillation. Some of the fuel compositions may have freezing points at or below −47° C., making them amenable for use a surrogate fuels in the place of JP-8.