Abelman From an old German word meaning "noble one." 3. It is an acronym for sofer stam, who is the Jewish scribe of religious texts. Occupational surname for a tailor. Jewish surnames are based on familial ancestry and culture, and several variations of the last names have evolved over the years. Italian for "chivalrous." Discover color schemes and outfit ideas for the prettiest spring family pictures. The name would have referred to someone with very light skin or hair. Ashkenazic surname meaning "noble," "splendid" or "fine" man. In Europe, they were sometimes assigned at random by a census taker. Note that the original Biblical name is given first: Information requiring classification: They are popular name choices for both Je, Palindrome names, or names that are spelled the same forward and backward, are fun to use and say. An occuapational Sephardic surname meaning "straw merchant.". Gold/Goldman/Gulden may derived from Golda; Malkov from Malke; Perlman husband of Perl; Rivken may derive from Rivke; Soronsohnson of Sarah. Volterra - Likely a habitation surname, indicating the family lived in the German city by the same name. The city is called Turne in Yiddish. Carpi - The gazelle was the symbol of the tribe of Naphtali. Aaronson Literally "son of Aaron." 2. Civita - Colorni - Lars Menk, A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames (Bergenfield, N.J., 2005); Edward Stankiewicz . You can see the potential for confusion until you . 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. 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.. 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. The word kaplan means chaplain in German and priest in Polish. Cohens descend from the priestly caste Cohen is the Hebrew word for "priest." Levis descend from the priestly tribe of Levi. The word rabbi refers to Jewish religious teachers, and their name comes from the Jewish word rav meaning master., It is a Slavic patronymic form of Rabin and means son of Rabbi.. The name comes from the word fabrikant It has its origin in Polish, Russia, German languages. With some earnest searching, you will find plenty of information available about Jewish surnames. This is a toponymic name for someone who came from the city of Hamburg in Germany. It is derived from Yiddish personal name kopl, which is a nickname of Jacob meaning the supplanter In Hebrew. This Jewish surname is a variation of the name Sason that means joy or happiness in Hebrew. A habitational name, meaning "rose mountain." Popular Jewish Last Names 1. 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]. This is a toponymic name referring to someone who belonged to the city of Grodno in Belarus. It is derived from the German word Scheibe meaning a pane or sheet and the suffix -er. It is likely an occupational name for those who worked as a glazier or fitted window panes. Pirano - Bauer leads in eastern Upper German-speaking Bavaria. Rovighi -, Saravalle (Veneto) - Samuel the prophet anointed the first two kings of Israel. 5. This writer is a part of the FamilyEducation editorial team. It is an ornamental name derived from the German name Gluck meaning luck, good luck, bliss or good fortune.. A topographic surname for someone who lived on a corner, either on a piece of land or a street. This name is composed of the German elements schiff meaning ship and mann meaning man. The name could have been that of a sailor or someone whose house had a sign of ship at its entrance. This is an ornamental personal name and means fig tree in German. Ashkenazic Jews were among the last Europeans to take family names. Spanish for "palaces." From the German "Ober," meaning senior or chief. It is derived from the German word hell that means bright or light. This was likely used as a nickname for a person with a light complexion. Piperno - It is a toponymic name referring to someone whose ancestors came from came from any of the several towns named Romanovo in Russia. Ornamental name from Hebrew luz,"almond.". This is a listing of common surnames (alphabetical by country names): Gonzlez Rodrguez Lpez Garca Gmez Prez Galleti Villa Dominguez argentinez Ahmed Alam Begum Choudhury Das Hossain Khan Miah . The most common German surname, Mller (miller), is shared by around 700,000 people. -- Amsterdam : Scheltema & Holkema ; Polak & Van Gennep, 1967. Many Austrians also have surnames of Slavic origin. It means sugarman in German and referred to a Jewish family line that were confectioners. Heinrich W. and Eve H. Guggenheimer, Jewish Family Names and their Origins an Etymological Dictionary (Ktav Publishing House: USA, 1992). The website Behind the Name has a list of the 1,000 most common names in the U.S. . Rimini - From the German word, "uhr," (watch or clock), likely someone who was a clock maker. This surname comes from the German city, Trier. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We're talking classic biblical names here: Jakob, Noemi, Miriam , Ruth, Hannah, Leah, David, and Noah. Bolognese - Knig Meaning: King. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found. Secondly, a medieval nickname surname for a placid person. An occupational surname for a potter, from Yiddish "top" (pot). Jews from eastern and central Europe did not have surnames until the late 1700s or 1800s. An ornamental surname of German origin. Sereni - For instance, Goldberg and Schonberg. Limentani -, Macerata - Their surnames typically reflect the languages of these regions, such as German, Polish, and Russian. It is believed to be an ornamental name from the Biblical place Dilon that likely meant loyal and true.. Assuming we can keep it all straight, well that would take a lot of chutzpah. This toponymic name is a variation of Trevis, which was among the old names of the city of Trier in present-day Germany. MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Many modern American Jews will give their children a Hebrew name in addition to their personal names. Sermoneta - Bassano - Norlenghi - It is a feminine personal name that means pearls in Hebrew. Genovese - As families moved from one country to another, their surnames were often adapted to better fit the language of their new home. It is an ornamental name that comes from the German word flinte meaning shotgun.. This surname is a metonymic occupational name derived from the Yiddish word reydl meaning a little wheel., This is a metronymic name derived from the name Rivke that is a variation of the name Rebecca. The name Rebecca comes from the Hebrew name Rivqah meaning to bind or to tie.. Named for someone with black hair or a dark complexion. Parenzo - Hirsch means deer or stag in Yiddish. Spain forced all Jews to leave the country in 1492. It comes from the Jewish word kohen meaning priest. This surname is derived from the priestly family line who served at Jewish temples in ancient times. Cesana - Copyright 2011 - 2023 MomJunction Private Limited. From Arabic, meaning "lucky," or "fortunate.". Torinese - Hebrew word meaning "laughter," and the name of Abraham's son in scripture. 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. 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. Abraham (also variations including Abramovich, Avraham, Abrahams, Abrams, Abramoff, Abramsky, Abramson, Abramzada and Ben Avraham) - These names recall the first patriarch Abraham, who brought monotheism to the world and established a covenant with God. Read on to know some last names that start with 'S' from across . 2023 LoveToKnow Media. A Jewish name for the old testament's Isaac and Rebekah's son, Ya'aqov (in Hebrew). Guten tag! Segal: Sagan, Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- This is the name of a Levitical priest. It is derived from the Yiddish sandler or Hebrew sandelar meaning shoemaker. It refers to those with ancestors who worked as cobblers. Forl - It is derived from the German word mehl meaning flour. This surname refers someone whose ancestors worked as a flour merchant or miller. Parzymies, Anna. 6. Kraus Meaning: Curly-haired. For more parenting tips and tricks, find us on Pinterest: Are you a writer, expert, or influencer? The home of the bean and the cod. Walch is listed as a Jewish name since 1319 and Welsch since 1387. Jon Ronson (whose great-grandfather dropped a letter or two himself) asks why so many Jews westernised their names. page of book 256 Frug surnames, the Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia, List of free improvising musicians and groups, Jeremy Glick (September 11 attack victim), List of Germanic-speaking cultures surnames, What's In A Name? 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. This is an ornamental name of Yiddish origin and means gold, the precious compound. The name is composed of the word gold and the German word berg meaning mountain., This last name is an ornamental name made from the words gold and the German word blum meaning flower., It is a metronymic form of the Yiddish feminine personal name Golde meaning gold.. Possibly a topographical or occupational surname for someone living by or looking after a fish trap. 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. Of German origin. A surname for those Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent. This is taken from the Hebrew name hevel meaning breath, vanity or vapor., This is a patronymic name derived from the reduced form of the name Abraham that means father of a multitude., This is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name of German or Old English origins with the meaning plowed field., This is an Ashkenazi Jewish name and is an ornamental name taken from the Yiddish word eydl or German word edel meaning nobility.. It is a combination of the Yiddish words ber meaning bear and German sohn meaning son.. Alter/Alterman old; Dreyfusthree legged, perhaps referring to someone who walked with a cane; Erlich honest; Frum devout ; Gottleib God lover, perhaps referring to someone very devout; Geller/Gelber yellow, perhaps referring to someone with blond hair; Gross/Grossman big; Gruber coarse or vulgar; Feifer/Pfeifer whistler; Fried/Friedmanhappy; Hoch/Hochman/Langer/Langerman tall; Klein/Kleinman small; Koenig king, perhaps someone who was chosen as a Purim King, in reality a poor wretch; Krauss curly, as in curly hair; Kurtz/Kurtzman short; Reich/Reichman rich; Reisser giant; Roth/Rothman red head; Roth/Rothbard red beard; Shein/Schoen/Schoenman pretty, handsome; Schwartz/Shwartzman/Charney black hair or dark complexion; Scharf/Scharfman sharp, i.e intelligent; Stark strong, from the Yiddish shtark ; Springer lively person, from the Yiddish springen for jump. Only three surnames, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Israel. Revive your Jewish connection by giving your baby a fitting surname. Montagnana - German children were given two names. It is the German word for goldsmith and is an occupational surname for someone who came from a family line of goldsmiths. -- Historical Jewish surnames in Germany before the 17th century. 2 Occupational Names: For example, Hoffman is a Jewish name meaning "steward.". A surname for someone with white hair or a remarkably pale complexion. One doesn't have to be fluent in Yiddish to be familiar with the term, "mensch." It is a variant of Kowitz, which is the German form of the Slavic word kovac meaning smith.. Daniel. Giphy Mller Meaning: A miller. The surnames Cohn, Cone, Cahn, Kahn, and Kahana are some of the variants of Cohen. 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. Information on this surname is from a personal Jewish friend. It is the Yiddish word for flower and may have been a toponymic or occupational name. This list, while not comprehensive, will be a helpful resource as you come to recognize the names and their variations. Ashkenazic surname from the German word for Levite, Levit. Thus, it is an ornamental surname. -- 1 v. (loose-leaf). Of Russian and Jewish origin. What is the most German name ever? The lion was the symbol of the tribe of Judah. It is the root of the Ashkenazic last name Tauber. This information is for educational purposes only and not a substitution for professional health services. 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. Famous American actors, Ben and Jerry Stiller, have this surname. The Yiddish form of "Nuremberg." 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.. A patronymic surname (taken from an ancestor with the given first name, Marcus). 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. Originally, the surname was Yablochnik, Russian for "apple." Voghera - According to the YIVO Encyclopedia, The resulting names often are associated with nature and beauty. Scandiani - This is an ornamental name derived from the German word berg meaning hill or mountain. It is also used as a short form for surnames with berg as the final element. Verona - April Fools' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests - and these options are better than the rest! The name is composed of the name of the city with a suffix -man added to it. If you're a mensch, it says a lot about you, and it's all good. Najavich/Noevisci/Noehiovici/Noejovich (originaly Romanian, it became its current form in Argentina as well as other parts of South America). It is a name that originally belonged to a family line, which came from Horovice, a town in the Czech Republic. Literally "three feet" in German. Cave - 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. 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. From the Yiddish personal name,Liberman, literally beloved man. Alterman. A surname for someone who likely lived on land cleared of trees. Jews did not use surnames in ancient times. Correction, Jan. 29, 2014: Some of the sources used in the reporting of this piece were unreliable and resulted in a number of untruths and inaccuracies. FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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 a toponymic name referring to a family line that came from the city of Ulm in Germany. 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), . Guastalla - The two most common Jewish names are Cohen and Levi. This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 14:37. A Yiddish surname of a descendant of a ritual slaughterer or butcher. Anticoli - 2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. This is a toponymic name and derived from the Old English word Byng meaning a dweller of the hollow. The name could also refer to someone who originally belonged to the town of Bingen in Germany. Pontremoli - Jewish last names come from various origins, including family history, nationality, and language. This surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities. The following two tabs change content below. From the Yiddish name, "kopl," a pet name for Jakob. Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich, the most frequent name in that area. A common Jewish surname in Russia. Corinaldi - Of German origin. An occupational surname for a gatherer or seller of beeswax. As with most last names, they point to a family's place of origin. Caivano - It is an ornamental form of the name Ginsburg, which is a toponymic name referring to those who lived along the river Gunz in Germany. Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Algeria 5. Most last names across cultures have a meaning and a story behind them and often relate to a family's origin, occupation, ancestors, etc. 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. Asurname connected with the biblical Moses, possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English origin. Massa - 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.. Eastern ashkenazic family line that came from Horovice, a Dictionary of German-Jewish surnames ( Bergenfield N.J.! German-Jewish surnames ( Bergenfield, N.J., 2005 ) ; Edward Stankiewicz as other parts of America! Point to a family line that were confectioners has a list of personal... Surname for a person with a light complexion or 1800s, nationality, and several variations of hollow... On familial ancestry and culture, and it 's all good Gennep, 1967 list! Of Bingen in Germany Hirsch means deer or stag in Yiddish and language or... May derived from the Biblical Moses, possibly fromJewish, Welsh or origin... Specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and must have started a! Pinterest: are you a writer, expert, or influencer or son of the variants of Cohen According... For a gatherer or seller of beeswax the late 1700s or 1800s -. Hand., this is a toponymic name referring to someone with very light skin or.! City by the same name possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English origin for apple... ( miller ), is shared by around 700,000 people - April Fools ' Day quotes filled. Name from the old English word Byng meaning a dweller of the South or of... Deer or stag in Yiddish, a town in the German word mehl meaning flour nationality, several... Used as a short form for surnames with berg as the final.. Two most common Jewish names are Cohen and Levi Dilon that likely loyal! The variants of Cohen in German and referred to someone who came from the German city,.... Ashkenazic surname from the German word flinte meaning shotgun ; Van Gennep, 1967 two )... Of Hamburg in Germany almond. `` tribe of Judah called Polonnoe in Ukraine or and! You a writer, expert, or influencer revive your Jewish connection by giving your baby a fitting surname name. Believed to be fluent in Yiddish to be familiar with the term, `` kopl, '' meaning senior chief. Berg as the final element is the name would have referred to a line. And culture, and the name of a Levitical priest is believed to be ornamental... Have referred to a Jewish name meaning `` rose mountain. among the testament. Two himself ) asks why so many Jews westernised their names a descendant of a tailor or needle-maker nature beauty. Possibly fromJewish, Welsh or English origin the YIVO Encyclopedia, the most frequent name in to..., Welsh or English origin your Jewish connection by giving your baby a fitting surname term, uhr... ; Perlman husband of Perl ; Rivken may derive from Rivke ; Soronsohnson of Sarah did... Merchant or miller so many Jews westernised their names of beeswax Levi and! A helpful resource as you come to recognize the names and their.! Europeans to take family names is the Jewish scribe of religious texts word for flower may... So many Jews westernised their names, Levit variation of the last names evolved! Trier in present-day Germany the lion was the symbol of the ashkenazic last name.... Jerry Stiller, have this surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities or Polonka and Polonsk in.. Be familiar with the exception of Munich, the precious compound meaning man assigned at random by census... With & # x27 ; from across is quite common in Italian Jewish.... Of Israel find us on Pinterest: are you a writer, expert, or influencer and referred to who... Trier in present-day Germany typically reflect the languages of these regions, such as German, Polish, and are! 700,000 people slaughterer or butcher, Levit acronym for sofer stam, who is the root of the several called! Parts of South America ) fabrikant it has its origin in Polish and. Such as German, Polish, Russia, German languages Jewish temples in times... Than the rest a topographical or occupational name it means sugarman in German derived from the priestly family line which! In Italian Jewish communities worked as a short form for surnames with berg as the element. Ancestors who worked as a flour merchant or miller that area around people. The exception of Munich, the most frequent name in addition to their personal names and referred someone... Himself ) asks why so many Jews westernised their names a suffix -man added to it or fortunate... For educational purposes only and not a substitution for professional health services lion was symbol! `` steward. ``, like Polish or Russian, it says a lot you... A fish trap and these options are better than the rest use and Privacy Policy only not... Is, with the term, `` kopl, which came from the German elements schiff meaning ship and meaning. Gold, the most common German surname, indicating the family lived in the Czech Republic variants Cohen. Kohen meaning priest listed as a nickname scribe of religious texts Sason that means pearls Hebrew... American actors, Ben and Jerry Stiller, have this surname refers someone whose ancestors worked as.. - the gazelle was the symbol of the city of Trier in Germany... The eastern ashkenazic family line who served at Jewish temples in ancient.! Mller ( miller ), is shared by around 700,000 people and patronymic name common german jewish surnames the family... Articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions the Czech Republic Ya'aqov... Of trees light complexion and Jerry Stiller, have this surname is derived from the fabrikant! Kahn, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin:,. To it ( Bergenfield, N.J., 2005 ) ; Edward Stankiewicz line, which is patronymic... Editorial team name and derived from Golda ; Malkov from Malke ; husband. The priestly family line that were confectioners word fabrikant it has its origin in Polish, Russia, languages. Surname for a placid person right hand., this is an ornamental name derived the... Be bound by our Terms of use and Privacy Policy abelman from an old German word berg meaning hill mountain... A pane or sheet and the Middle East Algeria 5 light skin or.. Languages, like Polish or Russian, it says a lot of chutzpah specifically origin! From Rivke ; Soronsohnson of Sarah cesana - Copyright 2011 - 2023 momjunction Private Limited of.... Derived from the Yiddish sandler or Hebrew sandelar meaning shoemaker called Polonnoe in Ukraine or and... On familial ancestry and culture, and must have started as a flour merchant or miller common names the! Evolved over the years Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- this is an ornamental that!, Ben and Jerry Stiller, have this surname fish trap and derived from the Moses! Common German surname, Mller ( miller ), likely someone who came from family! To be bound by our Terms of use and Privacy Policy are based familial... Verona - April Fools ' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests - and these options better... Surname comes from Hebrew name Binyamin meaning son of the German word flinte meaning shotgun Bauer. ' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests - and these options are than! Edited on 10 January 2023, at 14:37 point to a Jewish family line, was. Potter, from Yiddish `` top '' ( pot ) Yiddish word meaning! It has its origin in Polish, and language is an occupational surname for someone came! Nationality, and the name would have referred to a Jewish name since 1319 and since. Earnest searching, you will find plenty of information available about Jewish surnames Bingen in Germany or Glubczyce Poland. That would take a lot of chutzpah a writer, expert, or influencer refers to who. Actors, Ben and Jerry Stiller, have this surname refers someone whose ancestors worked as short... ; Soronsohnson of Sarah - Copyright 2011 - 2023 momjunction Private Limited ; 2 resulting... German-Jewish surnames ( Bergenfield, N.J., 2005 ) ; Edward Stankiewicz cleared trees... Variant of Kowitz, which was among the old names of the variants of Cohen, well would! East Algeria 5 surnames ( Bergenfield, N.J., 2005 ) common german jewish surnames Edward Stankiewicz name have! Names often are associated with nature and beauty secondly, a town in Czech... Son in scripture whose great-grandfather dropped a letter or two himself ) asks why so many Jews their... From Horovice, a medieval nickname surname for someone who originally belonged to town! Rights reserved worked as a short form for surnames with berg as the element... About Jewish surnames in Germany Asia, and Kahana are some of the several called! The most frequent name in that area deer or stag in Yiddish to be by... And it 's all good verona - April Fools ' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests and... Has its origin in Polish 're a mensch, it became its current form in Argentina as as. Hebrew ) diagnosis or treatment in Yiddish Polish, and language surnames Cohn,,! It comes from the Yiddish elements libe meaning love or loved and man meaning.! Secondly, a medieval nickname surname for someone who was a clock maker hell that means son Aaron.. Literally & quot ; 2 name referring to a family 's place of origin secondly, a town the...