-- 1 v. (loose-leaf). List of Common Jewish Surnames With Meanings. Here are some of the most common Jewish family names and their meanings. It is derived from the Germanic word with the meaning tailor, and denotes someone whose occupation was tailoring. Well-known American children's author, Shel Silverstein, had this surname. Altshul/Althshuler associated with the old synagogue in Prague; Cantor/Kazan/Singer/Spivack cantor or song leader in shul; Feder/Federman/Schreiber scribe; Haver from haver (court official); Klausner rabbi for small congregation; Klopman calls people to morning prayers by knocking on their window shutters; Lehrer/Malamud/Malmud teacher; Rabin rabbi (Rabinowitzson of rabbi); London scholar, from the Hebrew lamden (misunderstood by immigration inspectors); Reznick ritual slaughterer; Richter judge; Sandek godfather; Schechter/Schachter/Shuchter etc. It is the Yiddish word for flower and may have been a toponymic or occupational name. As a result, the Germanic origins of most East European Jews is reflected in their names. ", An ornamental name from the German, "herzoge," meaning duke. One highly recognized person with this surname is the Jewish comedian, George Burns. From Baden-Wuerttemburg in the south to Schleswig-Holstein in the north. Ferrara - It is the German word for bird. The name is a metonymic occupational name for a bird-catcher or someone who took care of birds. Eckstein Yiddish for cornerstone, derived from Psalm 118:22. People were given a name derived from their ancestors (ie. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our. Asurname connected with the biblical Moses, possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English origin. This post shares a compilation of Jewish surnames with their meanings and fascinating history behind each of them. It is an eastern Ashkenazi Jewish toponymic surname referring to those whose ancestors came from the city Krakow in Poland. It is a toponymic name referring to a family line that came from the city of Ulm in Germany. This last name refers to someone who came from any of the places called Janowice, Janow, or Janowo in Poland. Revive your Jewish connection by giving your baby a fitting surname. Sorani For example, the surname Mendelsohn would be given to someone who is the son of Mendel. An occupational surname from the German "smit"a "blacksmith. Torinese - American cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, had a variation of this surname. Castiglioni - Some examples of such last names include Gil (happiness), Sharon (a region of Israel), Harel (mountain of G-d), Alon (oak), Nagar (carpenter) and Gur (lion cub), just to name a few of the more famous ones. An occupational surname. It is derived from the Hebrew title Kohen Tzedek meaning the priest of righteousness., It is derived from the Yiddish word koyfman, which means merchant.. While it's true you generally can't identify Jewish ancestry by a surname alone, learning more about popular Jewish last names, or surnames, and a bit about the roads they have schlepped, gives you the power to better recognize them when you encounter them. Castelnuovo - A topographic surname for someone who lived on a corner, either on a piece of land or a street. This occupational name is for descendants of a cantor, one who sung liturgical music and led prayer in synagogue. Pisa - It is another variant of the surname Schaefer, which is derived from the German word schaf meaning sheep. It was an occupational name for those who worked as shepherds. Terracina - 5. It is a toponymic name that means easterner or eastern people in Hebrew. Daniel means "God is my judge" in Hebrew. Romano - A version of this post originally appeared on Jewish Currents. A German location-based surname, meaning "wild boar" and "stone.". This surname is topographical, possibly indicating someone who lived near a field, and had permission to let his livestock graze on said field. Bozecchi, Buzecchi, Buzecco, Buzzecchi, Bussecchi, Busecchi (Bussecchio, near Forl) -, Cagli - Of Northern European origin, a word meaning "mountain.". It refers to an ornamental name combined of the Germanic elements gut meaning good and berg meaning hill or mountain., It is derived from the Yiddish personal name Khayim that comes from the Hebrew word chayyim meaning life.. Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich, the most frequent name in that area. Means "a steward or farm laborer.". For example, the surname Segal means "assistant Levite," or someone that serves as an assistant to a priest in a Jewish temple. It is an ornamental name derived from the Yiddish elements finkl meaning sparkle and stein meaning stone.. It is a combination of the Yiddish words ber meaning bear and German sohn meaning son.. It is a combination of the Yiddish word tsekh meaning an artisans guild and man meaning man. This Jewish surname could have been an occupational one. Now, being labeled a schmuck, on the other hand, "oy vey"that's another story. Jon Ronson (whose great-grandfather dropped a letter or two himself) asks why so many Jews westernised their names. Ornamental name from Hebrew luz,"almond.". It is common among all peoples to take last names from the animal kingdom. This biblical surname comes from the Book of Joshua where it is the name of a mountain. It is the root of the Ashkenazic last name Tauber. Surnames of occupational origin include: Chazan [Cantor], Gabbai [synagogue official], Dayan [rabbinic judge], Coffen [Cohen], Tibbon [straw merchant], Sebag [black], Rofe [doctor], and Del Medigo [of medicine]. Segal: Sagan, Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- This is the name of a Levitical priest. It is an ornamental surname composed of the German words winter meaning winter and stein meaning stone., This name is composed of the German words wohl meaning well-being and berg meaning hill or mountain., It is a Jewish pet version of Jacob. The name Jacob is derived from Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter.. Pereira Origin: Sephardi Meaning: Pear tree. A Yiddish surname of a descendant of a ritual slaughterer or butcher. It is the variant of the surname Polonsky. This name likely refers to someone who came from any of the several places called Polonnoe in Ukraine or Polonka and Polonsk in Belarus. Although they were forced to take last names, at first they were used only for official purposes. The website Behind the Name has a list of the 1,000 most common names in the U.S. Massarani - This surname comes from the pet form ofBeniamin. Frascati -, Gattinara - So Lord Hamlyn, the publicity-shy 2m Labour donor, was once . It means finger hut in Yiddish and refers to a thimble, which is a metal cap worn on the finger tip by tailors. Livoli - German and Yiddish in origin. Roma - Ariccia - From the German word "winkle" (corner). April Fools' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests - and these options are better than the rest! Mensch individuals are known for thinking of others, and being compassionate. [1] [2] [3] Mller, occupation ( miller) Schmidt, occupation ( smith) Schneider, occupation ( tailor) Fischer, occupation ( fisherman) Weber, occupation ( weaver) Meyer, occupation (originally a manorial landlord, later a self-employed farmer) Jewish family names may be a translation of a Hebrew word or selected to honor a notable person in the Hebrew Bible. Recanati - There are other occupational names that are more distinctively related to Jewish culture and religious roles: Dayan (Jewish religious judge in a Beth din); Parnass, Gabbay, Singer, Cantor, Voorsanger, Chazan, Cantarini, from the synagogue officials who were so called; Shochet, Schaechter, Schechter, from the ritual slaughterer (also Schub or Jews used the town or region where they lived, or where their families came from, as their last name. Venezia - This surname is derived from the Yiddish elements laykht meaning light and man for man. The name could have begun as a nickname. Weber Meaning: Occupational name for a weaver. Genova - A location-based name of German origin, combining stone and stream creek. This surname denotes to a sexton or beadle a synagogue. A compound surname describing one's location of origin, and community status, namely "honor" and "hill.". All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Jewish surnames are mostly related to an individual's native place and occupation. It is a toponymic name derived from the Yiddish word eck meaning a corner. Another origin of the name could be the word eker that comes from a Yiddish dialect and means chopper or cutter., An Ashkenazi Jewish ornamental name combined with two Yiddish elements of edel meaning noble or splendid and man meaning a man.. Baer/Berman/Beerman/Berkowitz/Beronson bear; Adler eagle (may derive from reference to an eagle in Psalm 103:5); Einhorn unicorn; Falk/Sokol/Sokolovksy falcon; Fink finch; Fuchs/Liss fox; Gelfand/Helfand camel (technically means elephant but was used for camel too); Hechtpike; Hirschhorn deer antlers; Karp carp; Loeb lion; Ochs ox; Strauss ostrich (or bouquet of flowers); Wachtel quail. From the Hebrew, meaning "God contends." It is an occupational Hebrew name referring to someone whose ancestors worked as a primary school teacher. Yiddish for "Solomon," Israel's third king. So a family could have five boys with the first name Johann. It's a well-known Sephardic Jewish surname with a number of descendants found in the Mediterranean region, fleeing their communities after the Spanish Inquisition. It is a shortened form of the eastern Ashkenazi Jewish name Kovenski or Kovensky that are toponymic names referring to those from a place called Kaunas in Lithuania. These names are fascinating because they have been used for several centuries and are still popular. Lang/Lange/Long Meaning: A very tall person. It is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name composed of the German word salz meaning salt and berg meaning hill or mountain.. The name is derived from the Middle High German word ros meaning horse. It refers to someone with the occupation of a breeder or keeper of horses. From the German word, "uhr," (watch or clock), likely someone who was a clock maker. 6. The big two are Cohen (Cohn, Kohn, Kahan, Kahn, Kaplan) and Levi (Levy, Levine, Levinsky, Levitan, Levenson, Levitt, Lewin, Lewinsky, Lewinson). Goldmann Origin: Ashkenazi Meaning: Gold. Jeismann,Jeijsman,Jeisman (surname of Wesphalian origin) occupation:Ironman/Ironsmith. When compared to a list of Jewish surnames on Family Education and other websites in the Where to Find More section, these emerged as some of the most common in the United States: Jews who settled in the nations of northern and eastern Europe became known as Ashkenazi Jews. Many Jewish people also choose meaningful Hebrew names in order to honor their culture and heritage. Richard Andrees 1881 map of the Jews of Central Europe. Piperno - Polish names in Germany abound as a result of over 100,000 people (including 130,000 "Ruhrpolen") immigrating westward from the Polish-speaking areas of the German Empire. A habitational surname from the village of Yavor in Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe. The name is derived from the German word lehrer or Yiddish lerer, both meaning teacher., It comes from the Yiddish word leyb meaning lion.. Cave - This Ashkenazi Jewish name is composed of the German elements morgen meaning morning and stein meaning stone., It is derived from the Biblical name of the Jewish leader who led Jews out of Egypt. Copyright 2011 - 2023 MomJunction Private Limited. Goldman: a popular choice among Austrian Jews for its beautiful connotation "gold" and "man" Goldschmidt: this Germanic name refers to an ancestor who worked as a goldsmith Green: adopting colors as surnames was popular among Austro-Hungarian Jews Also, many of their surnames are Yiddish, the historical language of the Ashkenazi Jews. Marcaria - This is an ornamental name of Yiddish origin and means gold, the precious compound. It is an ornamental Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew word tsur meaning a rock.. It is the anglicized form of the German surname Grunberg that means green mountain. The name may have referred to someone from any of the several places called Grunberg in Poland and Germany. It is a cognate of the name Winrich. This name is composed of the Old High German elements wini meaning friend and reich meaning rich. It thus means rich friend and may have been used as a nickname. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. Terni - The process began in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1787 and ended in Czarist Russia in 1844. Shikha is a writer-turned-associate editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Sereni - Rarer names tend to accumulate in the north and south. A topographic name for someone who lived on a wedge-shaped piece of land. It is an ornamental name composed of the German words spiegel meaning mirror and berg meaning mountain., This toponymic Jewish surname originated from the German words stein meaning stone and bach meaning stream or a creek.. By Chuck Jackson from GENERATIONS, http://www.schechter.edu/AskTheRabbi.aspx?ID=155, http://www.sephardimhope.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=55, http://www.jewishgen.org/austriaczech/beiderindex.htm, https://www.sephardicgen.com/databases/SephardimCom2009.htm, http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/50512/New-Spanish-Law-Offers-Citizenship-For-Those-With-These-Last-Names/pagina-2/, http://www.nameyourroots.com/names/report?name1=Sousa, Surnames in Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia, GABIN List of Jewish Surnames, from a Polish Business Directory, English version; no Umlaut or other symbols, Rabbinic Names and Families - RavSIG @ JewishGen, https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Appendix:Jewish_surnames&oldid=70787652, ) ), Maimon = Maimone, Miamon. Get in touch! Kohen: Cohen, Cohn, Kuhn, Kohn, Cohen, Cahan -- This name may have originally referred to a line of a priest, Kohath. This common surname, and its variants, comes from the Turkish word for "tiger." Perugia - Jewish surnames are mostly related to an individuals native place and occupation. Because many Vietnamese sought asylum in West Germany or guest work in East Germany during and after the Vietnam War, and because approximately 40% of the Vietnamese population carry one particular name, the surname Nguyen is notably common in Germany. In the Hebrew scriptures, God gives Jacob this name, because he wrestled with an angel of God. It's recognized as the surname of the famous inventor and scientist, Albert Einstein. It is a surname adopted by those from a Latvian village called Trumany in Russian. Torino - It is the root of many Ashkenazic last names, including Hirschfeld, Hirschbein/Hershkowitz (son of Hirsch), Hertz/Herzl, Cerf, Hart, and Hartman. Corinaldi - These were sometimes foisted on Jews who discarded them as soon as possible, but a few may remain: Billig cheap; Gans goose; Indyk turkey; Grob rough/crude; Kalb cow. -- Amsterdam : Scheltema & Holkema ; Polak & Van Gennep, 1967. This metonymic surname is an elaborated form of Maltz that comes from the German word malz meaning malt.. Finally, there may have been Jewish names changed or shortened by immigration inspectors (though this is disputed) or by immigrants themselves (or their descendants) to sound more American, which is why Sean Ferguson was a Jew. Sephardic Jews (from areas around the Mediterranean) did not start adopting family names until the 15th century when expulsion from Spain meant finding a way to keep family ties. Jewish last names are a relatively new phenomenon, historically speaking. Baron: Baronstein, Barron, Baran, Baren, Barret, Barrett, Fleischer: Fleischman, Fleishchmann, Fleischhacker, Guttman: Gutman, Gutmann, Goodman, Goodmann, Hirsch: Herz, Hersch, Hertz, Hertzfield, Hershfield, Horowitz: Horovitz, Horwitz, Hurwitz, Hurewicz, Gurvich. A habitational name, meaning "rose mountain." It means sugarman in German and referred to a Jewish family line that were confectioners. Modica - Families with this name likely originate form Germany, Sweden or Denmark. Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning. Milanese - Schio - In Hebrew, "dove." Occupational surname for a tailor. This writer is a part of the FamilyEducation editorial team. A Russian surname combing the Yiddish "Benye" with the German, "sohn" (son). Walch is listed as a Jewish name since 1319 and Welsch since 1387. It is an ornamental name derived from the German name Gluck meaning luck, good luck, bliss or good fortune.. Hoffman Origin: Ashkenazi Meaning: Steward or farm laborer. Find your Jewish last name and learn about name meanings in Hebrew and the origins and history of Jewish surnames. She also specializes in baby names. An occupational surname for a cobbler or shoemaker. It is the Russian word for tailor. The name is thus an occupational one. Spanish for "palaces." Over time, Jews accepted the new last names, which were essential as Jews sought to advance within the broader society and as the shtetles were transformed or Jews left them for big cities. FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Here are some of the most common Jewish family names and their meanings. All rights reserved. A Jewish person with descendants from apy in northeastern Poland or Lapino in Belarus. 40 Niece Quotes & Captions to Show Your Unique Connection. Although Mller is the most common name in German-speaking countries, in some areas other surnames are more frequent than Mller. An Ashkenazic Jewish surname, comprised of "flower" and "mountain.". Refers to a person who owned or worked in a grain mill. . 2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. While some surnames such as Israel, Cohen, and Levi are purely Jewish, some are of German, Russian, or Polish origin. Derived from German, "schneiden," meaning "to cut.". This surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities. Jeismann/Jeisman, a Westphalian dialect variant of Eiseman/Eisman from Eisenmann. A patronymic from the Yiddish word, "Yude," or the Hebrew, Jude, meaning "praised.". Schiani - It could have meant a duke's servant, or a pet name for one whose actions resemble a duke, one who "puts on airs. Kravitz/Portnoy/Schneider/Snyder tailor; Nadelman/Nudelman also tailor, but from needle; Sher/Sherman also tailor, but from scissors or shears; Presser/Pressman clothing presser; Futterman/Kirshner/Kushner/Peltz furrier; Weber weaver. A good explanation and a list of localities covered are found in Edlund, Thomas Kent. Langeman, Alatri - All rights reserved. It is an acronym for sofer stam, who is the Jewish scribe of religious texts. Piazza (Sicilia) - From the Yiddish name, "kopl," a pet name for Jakob. Ashkenazi Jews (from eastern Europe and Germany) didn't take on last names until well into the 18th and 19th centuries when governments in Europe began registering Jews as subjects. This name is made from the German elements saphir meaning sapphire and stein meaning stone.. An occuapational Sephardic surname meaning "straw merchant.". Only three surnames, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Israel. It is derived from Yiddish personal name kopl, which is a nickname of Jacob meaning the supplanter In Hebrew. It is a toponymic name referring to someone whose ancestors came from came from any of the several towns named Romanovo in Russia. A common Jewish surname in Russia. Montalcino - I did a look up of the oldest ancestor that was derived from Germany and he was born in 1793 in a town near the border of France/Germany along the Rhine. AnAshkenazic surname indicating some affiliation with birds or animals. Campagnano - Cohens descend from the priestly caste Cohen is the Hebrew word for "priest." Levis descend from the priestly tribe of Levi. A surname given to a happy person or someone who liked to sing, or an occupational surname for a bird catcher. This is a variant form of the toponymic name Shapiro referring to European Jews who lived in the German city of Speyer. A Jewish habitational surname for villagers from various places in Belarus, such as Rogi or Rogin. Others include: Aaron Aronson, Aronoff; Asher; Benjamin; David Davis, Davies; Ephraim Fishl; Emanuel Mendel; Isaac Isaacs, Isaacson/Eisner; Jacob Jacobs, Jacobson, Jacoby; Judah Idelsohn, Udell,Yudelson; Mayer/Meyer; Menachem Mann, Mendel; Reuben Rubin; Samuel Samuels, Zangwill; Simon Schimmel; Solomon Zalman.