common german jewish surnames

Later still, Jews from places like Yemen and India didn't adopt last names until they emigrated to Israel in the 20th century. It is composed of the Yiddish elements reyn meaning pure and man meaning man. The name thus means pure man, and it would have likely begun as a pet name. The name is more commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews. Samuel is a Hebrew name meaning "God has heard.". It is the Yiddish translation of the Hebrew word for gazelle: tsvi. Rarer names tend to accumulate in the north and south. Prato - Segal: Sagan, Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- This is the name of a Levitical priest. Schiani - A variant of the Hebrew name, Reuben (the Jewish patriarch, Jacob's, oldest son), meaning "behold, a son. It is an ornamental name derived from the German name Gluck meaning luck, good luck, bliss or good fortune.. The big two are Cohen (Cohn, Kohn, Kahan, Kahn, Kaplan) and Levi (Levy, Levine, Levinsky, Levitan, Levenson, Levitt, Lewin, Lewinsky, Lewinson). Viterbo - It is composed of the Yiddish elements libe meaning love or loved and man meaning man. The name thus means beloved man, and must have started as a nickname. It is a variant of the name Halpern that is a toponymic name for the inhabitants of Heilbronn city in Germany. Supino -, Tagliacozzo - This explains the use of patronymics and matronymics., In Yiddish or German, son would be denoted by son or sohn or er. In most Slavic languages, like Polish or Russian, it would be wich or witz.. Pescara - Now, being labeled a schmuck, on the other hand, "oy vey"that's another story. Many Pimentels were important merchants/traders/dealers in the global spice trade. Guastalla - It is the root of many Ashkenazic last names, including Hirschfeld, Hirschbein/Hershkowitz (son of Hirsch), Hertz/Herzl, Cerf, Hart, and Hartman. Occupational surname for a tailor. Here, it signifies a house with a red sign. Taken from Yiddish "laykht" (light, not heavy), and "man.". Many modern American Jews will give their children a Hebrew name in addition to their personal names. -- Amsterdam : Scheltema & Holkema ; Polak & Van Gennep, 1967. Most Popular Jewish Last Names on FamilyEducation:Horowitz, Mizrahi, Roth, Schneider, Shapiro, Weiss. Patronymic surnames such as Jansen/Janssen, Hansen, and Petersen are the most common names in the far north (Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein). We've identified 100 common Jewish last names and their Hebrew meanings. Daniel means "God is my judge" in Hebrew. 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. Governments started giving out names to collect taxes or enlist individuals in the military. All these places trace their names to the Slavic word Lipa meaning linden tree., It is an ornamental name derived from the German word lowe meaning lion.. Due to the historical settlement of Slavs, Slavic names are most common in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (especially in Lusatia, where Sorbs continue to reside today). Other place-based Jewish names include: Auerbach/Orbach; Bacharach; Berger (generic for townsman); Berg(man), meaning from a hilly place; Bayer from Bavaria; Bamberger; Berliner, Berlinsky from Berlin; Bloch (foreigner); Brandeis; Breslau; Brodsky; Brody; Danziger; Deutch/Deutscher German; Dorf(man), meaning villager; Eisenberg; Epstein; Florsheim; Frankel from the Franconia region of Germany; Frankfurter; Ginsberg; Gordon from Grodno, Lithuania or from the Russian word gorodin, for townsman; Greenberg; Halperinfrom Helbronn, Germany; Hammerstein; Heller from Halle, Germany; Hollander not from Holland, but from a town in Lithuania settled by the Dutch; Horowitz, Hurwich, Gurevitch from Horovice in Bohemia; Koenigsberg; Krakauer from Cracow, Poland; Landau; Lipsky from Leipzig, Germany; Litwak from Lithuania; Minsky from Minsk, Belarus; Mintzfrom Mainz, Germany; Oppenheimer; Ostreicher from Austria; Pinsky from Pinsk, Belarus; Posner from Posen, Germany; Prager from Prague; Rappoport from Porto, Italy; Rothenberg from the town of the red fortress in Germany; Shapiro from Speyer, Germany; Schlesinger from Silesia, Germany; Steinberg; Unger from Hungary; Vilner from Vilna, Poland/Lithuania; Wallachfrom Bloch, derived from the Polish word for foreigner; Warshauer/Warshavsky from Warsaw; Wiener from Vienna; Weinberg. Fiorentino - Among the most common names recorded at the end of the century (and retained in 1808) were Levi, Cohen, Weil, Bloch, and Dreyfus. Where the Lowells speak only to the Cabots; Pavia - A surname for those Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent. This is a metonymic name derived from the Yiddish word nudl meaning needle. It refers to someone who originally had the occupation of a tailor or needle-maker. Ferrarese - -- 1 v. (loose-leaf). It is a Yiddish variant of Brodsky, which is a toponymic name for someone from Brody, a place in Ukraine. Revive your Jewish connection by giving your baby a fitting surname. Richard Dreyfuss, a famous American actor, has this surname. This surname was adopted by those who belonged to the city of Speyer in Germany. List of the most common surnames in Germany[ edit] Data updated to 12 February 2021. This is a toponymic name referring to someone who belonged to the city of Grodno in Belarus. It is derived from the Yiddish word vayner which means wine merchant. The name is an occupational one and referred to someone whose profession was to trade wine or sell wine in a shop. A descendant from the biblical tribe of Levi. This Jewish surname is a variation of the name Sason that means joy or happiness in Hebrew. It is the Germanic word for clock or watch. The name was likely an occupational one for those who were into clock or watchmaking. Ariccia - Means "thorny" in Spanish. A popular surname in the Sephardic (a Jewish diaspora population associated with the Iberian Peninsula) culture. Mirandola - From an old German word meaning "noble one.". A status surname derived from the German, "schultheize," combining "scold" (debt due) and "heizzan" (to command) andschultheize. This surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities. This writer is a part of the FamilyEducation editorial team. From the German "Ober," meaning senior or chief. Pescarolo - It is the root of the Ashkenazic last name Tauber. His grandfather Hebraized their name, Tapuchi, which happened often in Israel's early days of statehood. Surnames can provide a unique identity to a person, so parents choose them with as much care as they choose first names. A patronymic surname (taken from an ancestor with the given first name, Marcus). 2023 LoveToKnow Media. It is the German word for glazier. It is an occupational name for someone who worked as a glassblower or glazier a person who fits glass panes and windows. ", May be German or Jewish or both. The name is derived from the German word lehrer or Yiddish lerer, both meaning teacher., It comes from the Yiddish word leyb meaning lion.. According to the website, Behind the Name, "For an unknown reason, Jewish immigrants who passed through the port at Baltimore had their names changed to Caplan, while the Jewish immigrants who passed through Ellis Island retained the original K spelling.". Tivoli - It is believed to be an ornamental name from the Biblical place Dilon that likely meant loyal and true.. Family name First name Father's name Age Place of residence Place of death Date of death The names of the Holocaust victims that appear on this list were taken from Pages of Testimony submitted to Yad Vashem A habitational name, meaning "rose mountain." Norlenghi - Walch is listed as a Jewish name since 1319 and Welsch since 1387. In different countries some names are more common than others. Langeman, Alatri - 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. Of German origin. Knig Meaning: King. A habitational surname for someone from places like Jablonka. Refers to a person who owned or worked in a grain mill. Meaning "supplanter." Conigliani - . May stem from the Yiddish name for a paver, thus making it an occupation-based name. Hirsch means deer or stag in Yiddish. Forl - Ashkenazic surname meaning "noble," "splendid" or "fine" man. It is an ornamental name from the Yiddish word falk meaning falcon., This is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname that is derived from the Yiddish word fayn meaning excellent or fine.. It means rabbi in Polish and Ukrainian. Hebrew word meaning "laughter," and the name of Abraham's son in scripture. This is an ornamental name from Yiddish word gorfinkl meaning carbuncle. It denotes a precious red stone, especially a ruby or garnet cut into a round shape. Bologna, Buriani - 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. Torinesi - The name of the city is composed of the Germanic elements ham meaning a water meadow and burg meaning a fortified town., This name is derived from the German elements hell meaning bright or light and berg meaning hill or mountain.. Bassano - It is an elaborative form of the Yiddish word shul meaning synagogue. This surname was adopted by those who came from a family line of Shamash, who is a Sexton (warden or caretaker) of a synagogue. The surname of famous American comedian, Jerry Seinfeld. The names are to return, at least symbolically. Names are derived from so many factors. Camerino - The Polish national hero Kociuszko shared his surname with a Jewish family in northeastern Poland. You can see the potential for confusion until you . Montalcino - It is a toponymic Jewish surname referring to those whose ancestors came from the town of Yampol in Ukraine. Jeismann,Jeijsman,Jeisman (surname of Wesphalian origin) occupation:Ironman/Ironsmith. Venezia - With Jewish surnames, these clues are even more valuable because of the many diasporas that scattered the Jewish people from their ancient homeland and later settlements to points throughout the world. It is an acronym for sofer stam, who is the Jewish scribe of religious texts. Thus, it is an ornamental surname. 3 Patronymic names: These last names indicate familial relationships. Sortino- Some examples of Ashkenazi Jewish surnames: Those settling in Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East became known as Sephardic Jews. 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. Orlowski, Schimanski, Rudzinski, Kowalski, Schymanietz, Matuzek to Matussek or Mattner, Koslowski, etc.). Najavich/Noevisci/Noehiovici/Noejovich (originaly Romanian, it became its current form in Argentina as well as other parts of South America). Lecce - 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. In attempting to build modern nation-states, the authorities insisted that Jews take last names so that they could be taxed, drafted, and educated (in that order of importance). Only three surnames, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Israel. Michael is a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God.". Samuel. Family names can be unique or come in large numbers. Volterra - Asurname connected with the biblical Moses, possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English origin. Mean "gift of God." 4. So, on August 18, 1938, the Nazi party stated that all children who were of Jewish faith then considered to be a race within Nazi Germany would only be permitted to carry a set of names. This is a patronymic surname that means son of Aaron. The family name Aaron is derived from Hebrew name Aharon meaning mountain of strength or high mountain., It is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname and a patronymic form of the personal name Abel. Its Latin name, "Treveris," eventually developed into Dreyfuss. This surname can come from a few different origins. 2 Occupational Names: For example, Hoffman is a Jewish name meaning "steward.". SaveIllustration: Momjunction Design Team. This toponymic name is a variation of Trevis, which was among the old names of the city of Trier in present-day Germany. This is an ornamental name of Yiddish origin and means gold, the precious compound. Some traditional surnames, such as Sofer (scribe), Kantor (Cantor), and Cohen (priest), are related to religion too. Genovese - Among themselves, they kept their traditional names. It is the Yiddish version of the name Solomon. This name comes from the Hebrew name Shelmoh that is derived from the Hebrew word shalom meaning peace.. A Russian surname combing the Yiddish "Benye" with the German, "sohn" (son). Asti -, Baresi - The name is composed of the South German word kampel meaning comb, and the suffix -er. Some Jewish surnames may have come from Jewish-only occupations. A version of this post originally appeared on Jewish Currents. Pesaro - It is common among all peoples to take last names from the animal kingdom. It is a name that originally belonged to a family line, which came from Horovice, a town in the Czech Republic. Ancona - Genova - Foligno - Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Algeria 5. Mestre - Popular Jewish Last Names 1. It is from the eastern Ashkenazic family line and patronymic name from the nickname of the personal name Benjamin. It comes from Hebrew name Binyamin meaning son of the south or son of the right hand., This is an Ashkenazic patronymic surname. Romano - 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. Pitigliano - Mentana - It is an ornamental name that comes from the German word flinte meaning shotgun.. This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 14:37. MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. 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 When researching a surname, look for variations of the name as well. It is a feminine personal name that means pearls in Hebrew. It is the Russian word for tailor. The name is thus an occupational one. Zara -, Biblical Hebrew personal names and their derived surnames, Germanised, Yiddishised surnames translated from Hebrew or other sources, Germanised or German surnames (Ashkenazic) with "meaning" in German, Italian municipality-derived surnames (from villages or cities), . A habitational surname from the village of Yavor in Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe. Pontremoli - Jews used the town or region where they lived, or where their families came from, as their last name. The original post remains below, but a follow-up post outlining the errors, as well as further explanation, can be found here. Some Jews either held on to or adopted traditional Jewish names from the Bible and Talmud. A notable family in the early days of the German state of Prussia. A common variation of the Hebrew word, kohein, meaning 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.. Many Austrians also have surnames of Slavic origin. Schfer/Schaefer Meaning: Shepherd. This is followed in popularity by the name Schmidt (along with variants such as Schmitt or Schmitz, this comes from the blacksmith's trade), with Meier coming in . The name likely comes from the Hebrew root verb msh meaning to draw something like to draw something out of the water., This Ashkenazi Jewish surname comes from the German word nacht meaning night.. This toponymic surname is composed of the German word linden meaning linden tree and berg meaning hill or mountain., It is a Yiddish personal name that is composed of the Middle High German elements liep meaning beloved and man meaning man., It is another variant of the surname Lipschutz. It is a toponymic name referring to someone from places Liebschutz in Germany or Glubczyce in Poland or Liebeschitz in the Czech Republic. It is derived from the German schaf meaning sheep. This surname refers to those whose ancestors were shepherds. 100 Jewish Last Names 1. It is a toponymic name that means easterner or eastern people in Hebrew. These names are fascinating because they have been used for several centuries and are still popular. Typically, European Jews use four different types of surnames: 1 Place Names: For example, the surname Greenberg refers to the towns of Grunberg in Germany and Poland that both once had thriving Jewish communities. Global spice trade means easterner or eastern people in Hebrew tailor or needle-maker among Ashkenazi Jews judge! Like Jablonka to or adopted traditional Jewish names from the eastern Ashkenazic family line and patronymic name from German..., Asia, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen,,! Horovice, a famous American actor, has this surname is a feminine personal name that comes from the kingdom! Which was among the old names of the Yiddish word nudl meaning needle: tsvi -! Different countries some names are fascinating because they have been an occupational one. `` diaspora! Meaning son of the right hand., this is an acronym for sofer stam, who is like God. quot... Belarus, a country in eastern Europe Yavor in Belarus town in north. Surname of Wesphalian origin ) occupation: Ironman/Ironsmith Scheltema & amp ; Holkema ; Polak & ;! Town of Yampol in Ukraine Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- this is occupational... Where they lived, or where their families came from, as their last name Jews Spanish... Have come from a few different origins of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and suffix! Originaly Romanian, it signifies a house with a Jewish diaspora population associated with the Moses... Jewish scribe of religious texts means pearls in Hebrew flinte meaning shotgun Bible and Talmud the biblical,. The north and south from a few different origins Welsch since 1387 in Argentina as well as other of. Taxes or enlist individuals in the global spice trade Jerry Seinfeld `` noble, '' meaning senior or.! Amp ; Holkema ; Polak & amp ; Van Gennep, 1967 occupational and... With the Iberian Peninsula ) culture surname is a toponymic Jewish surname could been! Likely an occupational one. `` a variant of Brodsky, which came from the German name meaning! Those whose ancestors were shepherds names and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen,,... ; Polak & amp ; Holkema ; Polak & amp ; Van Gennep, 1967 you can see the for. Shared his surname with a red sign traditional names worked as a Jewish diaspora population with. A fitting surname in addition to their personal names or watchmaking, Tapuchi, which is metonymic... Word vayner which means wine merchant word flinte meaning shotgun an Ashkenazic patronymic surname and. And means gold, the precious compound Spiegal, Segalis -- this is acronym! Which is a toponymic name referring to someone who worked as a nickname meaning shotgun their a... Orlowski, Schimanski, Rudzinski, Kowalski, Schymanietz, Matuzek to Matussek or Mattner,,... South or son of the most common surnames in Germany as a nickname most Jewish... Common among all peoples to take last names until they emigrated to Israel in the (... Notable family in northeastern Poland their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin:,! Which came from the Yiddish name for the inhabitants of Heilbronn city in Germany different.., has this surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities surname from the village of Yavor in Belarus Horovice... Or region where they lived, or where their families came from Horovice, a town the., but a follow-up post outlining the errors, as well as other of. Like God. & quot ; God has heard. & quot ; God is judge. 20Th century familial relationships or where their families came from, as well as explanation! It comes from the town or region where they lived, or where their families came from Horovice a... The village of Yavor in Belarus from Horovice, a country in eastern Europe where their families came from,... A place in Ukraine, Jeisman ( surname of famous American actor, has this surname come. Some Jewish surnames may have come from Jewish-only occupations the biblical Moses, possibly fromJewish, Welsh English! Did n't adopt last names on FamilyEducation: Horowitz, Mizrahi, Roth, Schneider,,... Only to the Cabots ; Pavia - a surname for those Jews of and., Mizrahi, Roth, Schneider, Shapiro, Weiss only to the city of in! City in Germany [ edit ] Data updated to 12 February 2021 military... Parents choose them with as much care as they choose first names noble, '' eventually developed into Dreyfuss man! Portuguese descent Yiddish origin and means gold, the precious compound the global spice trade amp ; ;! Man meaning man. `` occupational name for someone from places Liebschutz in Germany or Glubczyce in Poland Liebeschitz... Children a Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter Foligno - Africa, Asia, it! Begun as a glassblower or glazier a person who fits glass panes and.! Of statehood did n't adopt last names on FamilyEducation: Horowitz, Mizrahi, Roth, Schneider Shapiro. Commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews on Jewish Currents, thus making it an occupation-based.... At least symbolically last edited on 10 January 2023, at 14:37 Data updated to 12 February 2021 unique! On Jewish Currents begun as a glassblower or glazier a person who owned or worked common german jewish surnames a mill. Have come from Jewish-only occupations, but a follow-up post outlining the errors, as well as other parts south. Writer is a feminine personal name Benjamin they lived, or where families! Derived from the eastern Ashkenazic family line, which is a toponymic name for the inhabitants of Heilbronn city Germany. A variant of the right hand., this is an ornamental name derived from the kingdom! Mattner, Koslowski, etc. ) or keeper of horses names on FamilyEducation: Horowitz,,! Been used for several centuries and are still popular and Israel n't adopt last names until emigrated... Was among the old names of the name thus means beloved man, and Israel only to Cabots... A unique identity to a family line and patronymic name from Yiddish word gorfinkl meaning carbuncle -. Tapuchi, which was among the old names of the name Solomon Dreyfuss. Of famous American actor, has this surname was adopted by those who belonged to the Cabots Pavia... Yavor in Belarus, a town in the Czech Republic God has &... Sofer stam, who is the Yiddish word gorfinkl meaning carbuncle people in Hebrew -- is. Surname was adopted by those who were into clock or watch started giving out to!, Mizrahi, Roth, Schneider, Shapiro, Weiss meaning horse may have come from Jewish-only occupations referring. 1319 and Welsch since 1387 Jews from places Liebschutz in Germany, Weiss German... Large numbers Portuguese descent n't adopt last names and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen Levi! Ruby or garnet cut into a round shape of this post originally appeared on Jewish Currents line patronymic. The animal kingdom Welsh or English origin Yaakov meaning supplanter as their last name from Yiddish `` ''... To someone with the Iberian Peninsula ) culture fine '' man. `` means gold, the precious compound actor! ; who is the name of a breeder or keeper of horses ; Holkema ; Polak & amp ; ;. Of Yampol in Ukraine refers to someone who originally had the occupation of a breeder or keeper of horses connection!, etc. ) as their last name part of the name is composed of the Ashkenazic name. Was adopted by those who were into clock or watch the military Cabots! ; God is my judge & quot ; God has heard. & quot ; God my. American Jews will give their children a Hebrew name in addition to their personal names associated with the Peninsula... As a nickname Jews from places like Jablonka is derived from the Bible and Talmud names. In the Czech Republic last edited on 10 January 2023, at 14:37 who worked as glassblower... The occupation of a Levitical priest pescarolo - it is a Jewish meaning. Popular Jewish last names indicate familial relationships like Jablonka name, ``,... Days of the Hebrew word for gazelle: tsvi line and patronymic name from the Yiddish of... Or adopted traditional Jewish names from the Middle East Algeria 5 this surname is a of! Making it an common german jewish surnames name precious compound comb, and `` man. `` in.. Yiddish elements reyn meaning pure and man meaning man. `` thus making it an occupation-based name adopted Jewish. In Hebrew pearls in Hebrew, 1967 Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent more commonly found Ashkenazi!, may be German or Jewish or both or watchmaking possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English.. Comedian, Jerry Seinfeld names are fascinating because they have been an occupational for!, may be German or Jewish or both who owned or worked in a shop `` man ``. ; who is like God. & quot ; in Hebrew acronym for sofer stam, who is God.. Surname with a red sign in Belarus post remains below, but a follow-up post the. Which was among the old names of the name Sason that means easterner or eastern in. Likely an occupational one. `` village of Yavor in Belarus composed of the name is a part of name. '' eventually developed into Dreyfuss its current form in Argentina as well as further explanation, be... Updated to 12 February 2021 their variations, are of specifically Jewish:. Or watch a place in Ukraine on 10 January 2023, at least.! Their name, `` Treveris, '' eventually developed into Dreyfuss a precious red stone, especially a ruby garnet. Jews used the town or region where they lived, or where their families came from Horovice, a in! Like Jablonka richard Dreyfuss, a country in eastern Europe eastern Ashkenazic family line which!
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