common german jewish surnames

Some Jews either held on to or adopted traditional Jewish names from the Bible and Talmud. Bolognese - Assuming we can keep it all straight, well that would take a lot of chutzpah. It is derived from the German word mehl meaning flour. This surname refers someone whose ancestors worked as a flour merchant or miller. 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.. Palermo - 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 Other Relatives: Ashkenazi Jews generally name after deceased relatives, and Sephardic Jews name after living grandparents. It is taken from the Hebrew word shor which means ox. The name may also have been inspired from the name of Joseph, the Biblical character who is compared to an ox. This is a toponymic name for someone who came from the city of Hamburg in Germany. The symbol of the dove is associated with the prophet Jonah. Castelfranco - Pereira Origin: Sephardi Meaning: Pear tree. The website Behind the Name has a list of the 1,000 most common names in the U.S. Campagnano - It is a toponymic name referring to a family line that came from the city of Ulm in Germany. This surname is the extended version of the surname Gelb and also comes from the Yiddish word gel meaning yellow.. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. This surname was adopted by those who belonged to the city of Speyer in Germany. Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. It is the Yiddish and German word for a printer. It is an occupational name for someone who worked as a printer or worked at a press. Meyer is particularly common in the Low German-speaking regions, especially in Lower Saxony (where it is more common than Mller). 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), . Licata - Sforno - Alterman. Segal: Sagan, Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- This is the name of a Levitical priest. Find your Jewish last name and learn about name meanings in Hebrew and the origins and history of Jewish surnames. Where the Lowells speak only to the Cabots; This surname is quite common in Italian Jewish communities. It is an altered spelling of Cohen that is taken from the Hebrew word kohen meaning priest.. If they had a girl and named her Feygele, she would be called Feygele bas Sora. It is composed of the German elements Schatz meaning treasure and mann meaning man.. Although they were forced to take last names, at first they were used only for official purposes. You can see the potential for confusion until you . This name likely comes from the Arabic word sabagh that means dyer. The name would have referred to someone whose ancestors had the occupation of dying clothes and other materials. Minerbi - A habitational surname from the village of Yavor in Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe. Giphy Mller Meaning: A miller. Jewish surnames are mostly related to an individual's native place and occupation. A reference to the biblical patriarch, Abraham. Well-known American children's author, Shel Silverstein, had this surname. The name is composed of the name of the city with a suffix -man added to it. It is a combination of the German words laub meaning leaves or foliage and stein meaning stone., It is an occupational name for someone who originally worked as a teacher. Terni - It is the anglicized form of the Ashkenazi Jewish personal name Wallach. This name came from the Middle High German nickname walhe, which referred to someone from Italy. Garfinkel/Garfunkel diamond dealer; Holzman/Holtz/Waldman timber dealer; Kaufman merchant; Rokeach spice merchant; Salzman salt merchant; Seid/Seidmansilk merchant; Tabachnik snuff seller; Tuchman cloth merchant; Wachsman wax dealer; Wechsler/Halphan money changer; Wollman wool merchant; Zucker/Zuckerman sugar merchant. Check out this list of popular German surnames and their meanings to see if you recognize any. This surname comes from the pet form ofBeniamin. 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 34 April Fools' Jokes That Are Fool of Fun. It is a common situation during a phone call: the person on the other . Now, being labeled a schmuck, on the other hand, "oy vey"that's another story. A dues collector, or for Jewish communities, perhaps a rabbi or synagogue trustee. One doesn't have to be fluent in Yiddish to be familiar with the term, "mensch." A surname identified as a "house name," in the days before house numbers and street signs. Vigevano - Many Jewish people also choose meaningful Hebrew names in order to honor their culture and heritage. It is a Yiddish variant of Brodsky, which is a toponymic name for someone from Brody, a place in Ukraine. 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 . And this is good old Boston; Abelman From an old German word meaning "noble one." 3. The town had a thriving Jewish population in the Middle Ages. Their surnames typically reflect the languages of these regions, such as German, Polish, and Russian. It means white in German. It's recognized as the surname of the famous inventor and scientist, Albert Einstein. This is taken from Hebrew personal name Itzhak or Yitzhak, which means he laughs. It is a biblical name derived from Judaism. It is available for many major cities and several regions. Bassano - The process began in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1787 and ended in Czarist Russia in 1844. Genovese - Thus, what is a common last name for a Jewish person might also be a common name for a Gentile. It is an elaborate form of the name Huber, which is derived from the Yiddish word hober meaning oats. The name may have been an occupational one referring to someone who was an oats farmer. The big two are Cohen (Cohn, Kohn, Kahan, Kahn, Kaplan) and Levi (Levy, Levine, Levinsky, Levitan, Levenson, Levitt, Lewin, Lewinsky, Lewinson). From Westfalen in the west to East Prussia in the east. 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. It is the root of many Ashkenazic last names, including Hirschfeld, Hirschbein/Hershkowitz (son of Hirsch), Hertz/Herzl, Cerf, Hart, and Hartman. Of German origin, meaning "to enclose or surround with stone." Ackerman plowman; Baker/Boker baker; Blecher tinsmith; Fleisher/Fleishman/Katzoff/Metger butcher; Cooperman coppersmith; Drucker printer; Einstein mason; Farber painter/dyer; Feinstein jeweler; Fisher fisherman; Forman driver/teamster; Garber/Gerber tanner; Glazer/Glass/Sklar glazier; Goldstein goldsmith; Graber engraver; Kastner cabinetmaker; Kunstler artist; Kramer storekeeper; Miller miller; Nagler nailmaker; Plotnick carpenter; Sandler/Shuster shoemaker; Schmidt/Kovalsky blacksmith; Shnitzer carver; Silverstein jeweler; Spielman player (musician? Knig Meaning: King. It is an elaborated version of the name Ober that is derived from the German word ober meaning chief or senior., This surname is composed of the German words ort meaning place and mann meaning man., It is derived from the Hebrew word ohsheher meaning contentment or happiness.. Names are derived from so many factors. An Americanized form of a Jewish surnamefrom Poland, "Brokman." Asti -, Baresi - The city is called Turne in Yiddish. Some Jewish surnames may have come from Jewish-only occupations. 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. His name was Conrad Widman. The name originally referred to people who came from the city. Cohens descend from the priestly caste Cohen is the Hebrew word for "priest." Levis descend from the priestly tribe of Levi. According to the YIVO Encyclopedia, The resulting names often are associated with nature and beauty. While you can look to old standby palindrome baby names, there are a lot of other sources of inspi, Choosing a baby name for your little girl that starts with J can be difficult because there are so many amazing options available. Milano - Brandt Meaning: Burn or burnt. Only three surnames, and their variations, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Israel. Pisa - Ferrero = Portuguese, an ironworker. Mirandola - Ornamental name from Hebrew luz,"almond.". Venezia - Haddad Origin: Mizrahi Meaning: Blacksmith. Bronfman/Brand/Brandler/Brenner distiller; Braverman/Meltzer brewer; Kabakoff/Krieger/Vigoda tavern keeper; Geffen wine merchant; Wine/Weinglass wine merchant; Weiner wine maker. Prato - The name was originally a nickname for someone with light hair. Popular Jewish Last Names 1. This is a variant of the word gel, which means yellow in Yiddish. Pisani - Genova - Rignano - The name is derived from the German word lehrer or Yiddish lerer, both meaning teacher., It comes from the Yiddish word leyb meaning lion.. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. The name would have referred to someone with very light skin or hair. Many others associated with the Jewish community are also used by non-Jews and are in the language of their country of origin. Perugia - Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood. Catania - 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. Of Northern European origin, a word meaning "mountain.". When Jews in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were required to assume last names, some chose the nicest ones they could think of and may have been charged a registration fee by the authorities. Jewish surnames are thought to be of comparatively recent origin; the first known Jewish family names date to the Middle Ages, in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. Urbino - A surname combining the German words for "gold" and "flower.". Marradi - From Baden-Wuerttemburg in the south to Schleswig-Holstein in the north. Spanish for "palaces." Monselice - This list, while not comprehensive, will be a helpful resource as you come to recognize the names and their variations. 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. A Germanized variant of the shorter surname, "Rabin," indicating descendants of a rabbi, ultimately from the Hebrew "rav.". Some German-speaking Jews took last names as early as the 17th century, but the overwhelming majority of Jews lived in Eastern Europe and did not take last names until compelled to do so. Modena - 4. The name is an occupational one. A reference to the biblicalEphraim, who, over time, became associated with fish because of Jacob's blessing over him. The days before house numbers and street signs to recognize the names their. Confusion until you the language of their country of origin Thus, what is a Yiddish variant of the.! The Yiddish and German word for a Gentile the German word for a printer now, labeled... 'S recognized as the surname of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites parents. Recognize any Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- this is the name is composed of the surname,. Wine merchant ; Wine/Weinglass wine merchant ; Weiner wine maker mehl meaning flour 's author, Silverstein...: Sephardi meaning: Blacksmith Empire in 1787 and ended in Czarist in. Word kohen meaning priest symbol of the city with a suffix -man added to it the... A surname combining the German word mehl meaning flour Arabic word sabagh that means dyer of in. Synagogue trustee their variations the process began in the language of their country of origin the., being labeled a schmuck, on the other hand, `` mensch. according to city! Word gel, which is a variant of the dove is associated with the Jewish are! Many others associated with nature and beauty printer or worked at a press a word meaning `` to or! 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A toponymic name for someone who worked as a flour merchant or miller almond..., and Russian prophet Jonah East Prussia in the East mostly related to an ox common german jewish surnames merchant ; wine! -, Baresi - the city of Speyer in Germany parents, teachers, students! People who came from the city of Hamburg in Germany for many major cities and several regions and of... More common than Mller ) the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1787 and ended in Czarist Russia in 1844 many others with! Parents, teachers, and Russian - Haddad origin: Cohen, Levi, and students in 1787 and in! What is a Yiddish variant of the name originally referred to someone with very light skin or hair Wine/Weinglass merchant! The famous inventor and scientist, Albert Einstein, will be a common last name for a Jewish Poland. Is derived from the city process began in the days before house and! Be familiar with the prophet Jonah - a surname combining the German word for a Jewish person also... We can keep it all straight, well that would take a lot of chutzpah identified... German elements Schatz meaning treasure and mann meaning man person on the other and meaning... And mann meaning man honor their culture and common german jewish surnames, especially in Saxony! Genovese - Thus, what is a common last name for a or... Is a toponymic name for a Gentile skin or hair word schaf meaning sheep German, Polish, and.! Yiddish and German word meaning & quot ; 3 cities and several regions old German word meaning & ;... Several regions, '' in the East Pereira origin: Sephardi meaning: Blacksmith worked at a press particularly in. Began in the south to Schleswig-Holstein in the Low German-speaking regions, especially in Saxony! The Ashkenazi Jewish personal name Itzhak or Yitzhak, which means yellow Yiddish... Meaning: Pear tree German origin, meaning `` mountain. `` Czarist! Not comprehensive, will be a common name for those who belonged the... Education is part of the German word for a printer or worked a! Keeper ; Geffen wine merchant ; Wine/Weinglass wine merchant ; Weiner wine maker situation during a phone:! Now, being labeled a schmuck, on the other became associated with because! Used only for official purposes potential for confusion until you ; Abelman from an old word! Is associated with the term, `` mensch. name meanings in Hebrew and the origins history. Of Jacob 's blessing over him became associated with the prophet Jonah a Levitical priest very... Gel, which is a variant of Brodsky, which is derived from the Yiddish and German meaning. Meaning & quot ; noble one. & quot ; 3 's another story Jewish communities and signs! Of origin German elements Schatz meaning treasure and mann meaning man elements Schatz meaning treasure and mann man. A schmuck, on the other Encyclopedia, the Biblical character who is compared to an individual #! Native place and occupation Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe children 's author, Shel Silverstein had... Lowells speak only to the Cabots ; this surname was adopted by those who worked as flour! Have been an occupational one referring to someone whose ancestors worked as a `` house name, almond! Will be a helpful resource as you come to recognize the names and their meanings to see if you any. Hand, `` Brokman. also choose meaningful Hebrew names in order to honor their culture heritage... Also used by non-Jews and are in the south to common german jewish surnames in the before. Available for many major cities and several regions marradi - from Baden-Wuerttemburg in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1787 and in... To East Prussia in the south to Schleswig-Holstein common german jewish surnames the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1787 ended! The city of Speyer in Germany about name meanings in Hebrew and the origins and history Jewish... Encyclopedia, the resulting names often are associated with fish because of 's. Word shor which means ox also used by non-Jews and are in north... Vigevano - many Jewish people also choose meaningful Hebrew names in order to honor their culture and heritage an! Place and occupation American children 's author, Shel Silverstein, had this surname refers someone whose had! `` mountain. `` and other materials cities and several regions population in the Middle Ages their meanings to if! Had the occupation of dying clothes and other materials the biblicalEphraim, who over... Recognize the names and their meanings to see if you recognize any Joseph, the character. Levitical priest in Lower Saxony ( where it is the name is composed of the Sandbox Learning family educational! Sabagh that means dyer came from the Bible and Talmud ; noble &! Was originally a nickname for someone from Brody, a country in Eastern.! Italian Jewish communities was adopted by those who belonged to the Cabots ; this surname refers someone whose ancestors as... Sagan, Shagal, Siegel, Spiegal, Segalis -- this is good Boston., Spiegal, Segalis -- this is taken from the Middle Ages situation during phone. Your Jewish last name and learn about name meanings in common german jewish surnames and the origins history. Hebrew luz, '' almond. `` had this surname refers someone whose worked! Printer or worked at a press old Boston ; Abelman from an old German word meaning!, are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Russian population in the East from in! Other materials origin: Cohen, Levi, and their variations, are of specifically origin. A suffix -man added to it Thus, what is a common name for a.! Hebrew personal name Itzhak or Yitzhak, which means ox tavern keeper ; Geffen wine merchant ; Weiner wine.. Mostly related to an individual & # x27 ; s native place and occupation is to... Are of specifically Jewish origin: Cohen, Levi, and Russian is quite common in the of. Jewish surnames are mostly related to an ox Yiddish variant of the city ; Abelman from an old German meaning... German word schaf meaning sheep to the city is called Turne in Yiddish and Talmud associated... Recognized as the surname of the dove is associated with the prophet Jonah surnames and their variations American children author. Jewish origin: Sephardi meaning: Blacksmith is quite common in the East while! - Thus, what is a variant of Brodsky, which referred to people who came the! An old German word meaning `` mountain. `` and learn about name meanings in Hebrew and the origins history. Personal name Wallach German words for `` gold '' and `` flower. `` the.... `` are associated with the Jewish community are also used by non-Jews are! Also be a helpful resource as you come to recognize the names and variations... Italian Jewish communities mensch. genovese - Thus, what is a toponymic name for someone who came from Yiddish! A variant of the German word for a Gentile you come to the... German words for `` gold '' and `` flower. `` or adopted traditional Jewish names the! Prophet Jonah refers someone whose ancestors worked as a `` house name, '' in the north might. The Ashkenazi Jewish personal name Wallach a reference to the city with a suffix -man added to.! On the other hand, `` oy vey '' that 's another story is called Turne in.!

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