200 Common Jewish Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings

Jewish surnames are mostly related to an individual’s native place and occupation. Some traditional surnames, such as Sofer (scribe), Kantor (Cantor), and Cohen (priest), are related to religion too. While some surnames such as Israel, Cohen, and Levi are purely Jewish, some are of German, Russian, or Polish origin.

Since the Jews are spread worldwide, their surnames can be found across the globe. These surnames have been influenced by the cultural assimilation, geographic diversity of the community, and the Hebraization of surnames (1).

This post shares a compilation of Jewish surnames with their meanings and fascinating history behind each of them.

In This Article

List of Common Jewish Surnames With Meanings

1. Aaronson

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.’

2. Abelman

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname and a patronymic form of the personal name Abel. This is taken from the Hebrew name ‘hevel’ meaning ‘breath,’ ‘vanity’ or ‘vapor.’

3. Abram

This is a patronymic name derived from the reduced form of the name ‘Abraham’ that means ‘father of a multitude.’

4. Acker

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name of German or Old English origins with the meaning ‘plowed field.’

5. Adelman

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish name and is an ornamental name taken from the Yiddish word ‘eydl’ or German word ‘edel’ meaning ‘nobility.’

6. Appelbaum

This is a variant spelling of the German name ‘Apfelbaum’ that means ‘apple tree.’ It is also an occupational name from a grower of the fruit.

7. Bach

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish ornamental last name taken from the German word ‘Bach’ meaning a ‘creek’ or a ‘stream.’

8. Becker

It comes from the Middle High German word ‘becker’ meaning a ‘baker.’ It is an occupational surname for those baked bread or had made bricks or tiles in a kiln.

9. Benowitz

It is from the eastern Ashkenazic family line and patronymic name from the nickname of the personal name ‘Benjamin.’ It comes from Hebrew nameBinyamin’ meaning ‘son of the south’ or ‘son of the right hand.’

10. Berenson

This is an Ashkenazic patronymic surname. It is a combination of the Yiddish words ‘ber’ meaning ‘bear’ and German ‘sohn’ meaning ‘son.’

11. Berg

Jewish surname, Berg

Image: Shutterstock

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. For instance, Goldberg and Schonberg.

12. Bing

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish name. 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.

13. Blau

It means ‘blue’ in German. It is an Ashkenazi Jewish ornamental surname.

14. Blum

It is the Yiddish word for ‘flower’ and may have been a toponymic or occupational name.

15. Broder

It is a Yiddish variant of ‘Brodsky,’ which is a toponymic name for someone from Brody, a place in Ukraine.

16. Cohen

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.

protip_icon Trivia
The surnames Cohn, Cone, Cahn, Kahn, and Kahana are some of the variants of Cohen.

17. Cooperman

This is an occupational name for a ‘coppersmith’ derived from Yiddish word ‘kuper’ meaning ‘copper.’

18. David

This is a popular name among Jews and comes from the Hebrew word ‘Dawid’ meaning ‘beloved.’

19. Diamond

This is an anglicized form of the Jewish surname ‘Diament,’ which means diamond in Yiddish. The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Late Latin word ‘diamas’ that means ‘invincible.’

20. Dillon

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name of uncertain origin. It is believed to be an ornamental name from the Biblical place ‘Dilon’ that likely meant ‘loyal and true.’

21. Dreyfus

This toponymic name is a variation of ‘Trevis,’ which was among the old names of the city of Trier in present-day Germany. The name originally referred to people who came from the city.

22. Drucker

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.

23. Ecker

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.’

24. Edelman

An Ashkenazi Jewish ornamental name combined with two Yiddish elements of ‘edel’ meaning ‘noble’ or ‘splendid’ and ‘man’ meaning a ‘man.’

25. Efron

This biblical surname comes from the Book of Joshua where it is the name of a mountain.

26. Ehrlich

It is a name that comes from the German word ‘ehrlich’ meaning ‘honest’ or the Yiddish word ‘erlekh’ that also means ‘honest or virtuous.’

27. Einstein

This surname is an ornamental name combined of two German elements ‘ein’ meaning ‘one’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

28. Elkayam

The name is the combination of two Hebrew elements ‘el’ or ‘elohim’ meaning ‘god’ and ‘kayam’ meaning ‘exists.’ The name thus means ‘god exists’ or ‘god is omnipresent.’

29. Elkin

It is a metronymic form of the Yiddish feminine personal name ‘Elke,’ with the suffix ‘-in.’ The name ‘Elke’ is the feminine version of the name ‘Elkanah’ that means ‘god-created.’

30. Engel

It is an ornamental name from the German word ‘engel’ meaning an ‘angel.’

31. Ewen

It comes from the Hebrew word ‘aven’ or ‘avna’ meaning ‘stone.’

32. Ezra

Ezra is a Biblical name and taken from the Hebrew word ‘ezra’ meaning ‘help.’

33. Fabrikant

It is an occupational name for a ‘manufacturer’ of any form of goods or a factory owner. The name comes from the word ‘fabrikant’ It has its origin in Polish, Russia, German languages.

34. Fairman

It is an anglicized form of the Jewish name ‘Feuerman’ that in German means ‘fireman.’ The root element in the name is ‘feur’ meaning ‘fire’ in German.

35. Falk

It is an ornamental name from the Yiddish word ‘falk’ meaning ‘falcon.’

36. Fein

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname that is derived from the Yiddish word ‘fayn’ meaning ‘excellent’ or ‘fine.’

37. Feigenbaum

This is an ornamental personal name and means ‘fig tree’ in German.

38. Feinberg

This is an ornamental name composed of the German words ‘fein’ meaning ‘fine’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

39. Feldman

This is an ornamental extension of the name ‘Feld’ that means ‘field’ in German and Yiddish.

40. Fingerhut

It means ‘finger hut’ in Yiddish and refers to a ‘thimble,’ which is a metal cap worn on the finger tip by tailors. This name is likely an occupational surname and originally referred to a family line of tailors.

41. Finkelstein

It is an ornamental name derived from the Yiddish elements ‘finkl’ meaning ‘sparkle’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

42. Fischler

This is a variant spelling for ‘Fischer’ which is an occupational name for fisherman. The name is more commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews.

43. Fishman

It means ‘fisherman’ in German and Yiddish languages. The name is an occupational one.

44. Flint

It is an ornamental name that comes from the German word ‘flinte’ meaning ‘shotgun.’

45. Franco

This surname is adopted from the Spanish personal name ‘Franco’ meaning ‘free.’ It was used as a nickname for freed slaves.

46. Frisch

This was used as a nickname and was derived from the Yiddish word ‘frish’ meaning ‘fresh’.

47. Garfinkel

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.

48. Gelb

This is a variant of the word ‘gel,’ which means ‘yellow’ in Yiddish. The name likely began as a nickname for people with light hair.

49. Gelber

This surname is the extended version of the surname ‘Gelb’ and also comes from the Yiddish word ‘gel’ meaning ‘yellow.’

50. Geller

It is derived from the word ‘gel,’ which is the Yiddish word for the color yellow. The name was originally a nickname for someone with light hair.

51. Ginsberg

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.

52. Glaser

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.

53. Glick

It is an ornamental name derived from the German name ‘Gluck’ meaning ‘luck,’ ‘good luck,’ ‘bliss’ or ‘good fortune.’

54. Gold

This is an ornamental name of Yiddish origin and means ‘gold,’ the precious compound.

55. Goldbaum

Jewish surname Gold, the precious compound

Image: Shutterstock

This surname is an ornamental name composed of the word ‘gold’ and the German word ‘baum’ meaning ‘tree.’

56. Goldberg

It is a toponymic name referring to someone who belonged to the town of Goldberg in Germany. The name is composed of the word ‘gold’ and the German word ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’

protip_icon Quick fact
BWilliam Scott Goldberg, mononymously known as Goldberg, is a professional wrestler famous for his appearances in WWE and WCW.

57. Goldblum

This last name is an ornamental name made from the words ‘gold’ and the German word ‘blum’ meaning ‘flower.’

58. Goldman

It is a metronymic form of the Yiddish feminine personal name ‘Golde’ meaning ‘gold.’

59. Goldschmidt

It is the German word for ‘goldsmith’ and is an occupational surname for someone who came from a family line of goldsmiths.

60. Gordon

This is a toponymic name referring to someone who belonged to the city of Grodno in Belarus.

61. Green

It is an anglicized form of the Yiddish name ‘Grin’ or German ‘Grun.’ Both words mean the color green in their respective languages.

62. Greenberg

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.

63. Gurewitz

It is a variant spelling of ‘Horowitz,’ which is a toponymic name derived from Horovice, a town in the Central Bohemian region of Czech Republic.

64. Guttenberg

It refers to an ornamental name combined of the Germanic elements ‘gut’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

65. Haim

It is derived from the Yiddish personal name ‘Khayim’ that comes from the Hebrew word ‘chayyim’ meaning ‘life.’

66. Halpert

It is a variant of the name ‘Halpern’ that is a toponymic name for the inhabitants of Heilbronn city in Germany. This city had a large Jewish population in medieval ages.

67. Hamburg

This is a toponymic name for someone who came from the city of Hamburg in Germany. The name of the city is composed of the Germanic elements ‘ham’ meaning a ‘water meadow’ and ‘burg’ meaning a ‘fortified town.’

68. Hellberg

This name is derived from the German elements ‘hell’ meaning ‘bright’ or ‘light’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

69. Heller

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.

70. Himel

It is an ornamental name derived from the German word ‘himmel’ meaning ‘heaven.’

71. Hirsch

This is an Ashkenazi Jewish name derived from the ‘Yiddish’ word ‘hirsh’ meaning ‘deer.’

72. Horowitz

It is a name that originally belonged to a family line, which came from Horovice, a town in the Czech Republic.

73. Huberman

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.

74. Hyatt

This surname is an anglicized spelling of the name ‘Chayat’ that is derived from the Yiddish word ‘khayet’ meaning ‘tailor.’

75. Isaac

This is taken from Hebrew personal name Itzhak or Yitzhak, which means ‘he laughs.’ It is a biblical name derived from Judaism.

76. Israel

This surname is taken from the Hebrew personal name ‘Yitzchaq’ meaning ‘may he smile,’ ‘may he rejoice,’ or ‘may he always stay happy.’

77. Jablonsky

It is the variant of the name ‘Jablonski’ that is derived from the word ‘jablon,’ which is the Polish word for ‘apple tree.’

78. Janowicz

This last name refers to someone who came from any of the places called Janowice, Janow, or Janowo in Poland.

79. Kane

It is an altered spelling of ‘Cohen’ that is taken from the Hebrew word ‘kohen’ meaning ‘priest.’

80. Kaplan

It is a Germanic form of ‘Cohen,’ a priest who serves at a Jewish temple. The word ‘kaplan’ means ‘chaplain’ in German and ‘priest’ in Polish.

81. Katz

It is derived from the Hebrew title ‘Kohen Tzedek’ meaning the ‘priest of righteousness.’

82. Kaufman

It is derived from the Yiddish word ‘koyfman,’ which means ‘merchant.’

83. Kempler

The name is composed of the South German word ‘kampel’ meaning ‘comb,’ and the suffix -er. This surname refers to those with the occupation of comb making.

84. Kilman

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish name composed of the Yiddish words ‘kil’ meaning ‘cool’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’ The name means ‘cool man’ and may have begun as a nickname.

85. Kleinfeld

This surname is made from the Yiddish elements ‘klein’ meaning ‘small’ and ‘feld’ meaning ‘field.’

86. Knopp

It is a metronymic occupational name derived from the Yiddish word ‘knop’ meaning ‘button.’

87. Koppel

It is derived from Yiddish personal name ‘kopl,’ which is a nickname of ‘Jacob’ meaning ‘the supplanter’ In Hebrew.

88. Koven

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.

89. Kovitz

It is a variant of ‘Kowitz,’ which is the German form of the Slavic word ‘kovac’ meaning ‘smith.’

90. Krakow

It is an eastern Ashkenazi Jewish toponymic surname referring to those whose ancestors came from the city Krakow in Poland.

91. Kroll

It comes from the Polish word ‘krol’ that means ‘king.’ The name could be an occupational one for someone working for an aristocratic family. Another origin of the name could be the Polish word ‘krolik’ that means ‘rabbit.’

92. Krone

It is an ornamental name taken from the German word ‘krone’ meaning ‘crown.’

93. Kravitz

It is an occupational name taken from the Polish word ‘krawiec’ that means a ‘tailor.’

94. Kugel

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish name derived from the Yiddish word ‘kugl’ that means a ‘pudding.’

95. Lachman

It is a variant form of the Hebrew name ‘Nachman’ that means ‘consoler’ or ‘comforter.’

96. Landman

This occupational name is from the Middle High German word ‘lant’ referring to someone who was a landlord. The name could also be a toponymic one referring to someone from places called Landau in Europe.

97. Laubenstein

It is a combination of the German words ‘laub’ meaning ‘leaves’ or ‘foliage’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

98. Lehrer

It is an occupational name for someone who originally worked as a teacher. The name is derived from the German word ‘lehrer’ or Yiddish ‘lerer,’ both meaning ‘teacher.’

99. Leib

Jewish surname inspired by a lion, Leib

Image: Shutterstock

It comes from the Yiddish word ‘leyb’ meaning ‘lion.’

100. Leichtman

This surname is derived from the Yiddish elements ‘laykht’ meaning ‘light’ and ‘man’ for ‘man.’ The name could have begun as a nickname.

101. Levi

It is a name that is derived from the Hebrew word and means ‘joined,’ ‘attached,’ or ‘united.’

102. Levine

It is a variant spelling for ‘Levin,’ that comes from ‘Levi’ meaning ‘united’ in Hebrew.

103. Liberman

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.

104. Lindenberg

This toponymic surname is composed of the German word ‘linden’ meaning ‘linden tree’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

105. Lipman

It is a Yiddish personal name that is composed of the Middle High German elements ‘liep’ meaning ‘beloved’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’

106. Lipschitz

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. All these places trace their names to the Slavic word ‘Lipa’ meaning ‘linden tree.’

107. Loewe

It is an ornamental name derived from the German word ‘lowe’ meaning ‘lion.’

108. Magid

It is derived from Hebrew and means ‘teacher’ or ‘teaching.’ The name refers to someone whose ancestor was a preacher or scholar.

109. Maltzman

This metonymic surname is an elaborated form of ‘Maltz’ that comes from the German word ‘malz’ meaning ‘malt.’

110. Margolis

It is a feminine personal name that means ‘pearls’ in Hebrew.

111. Melamed

It is an occupational Hebrew name referring to someone whose ancestors worked as a primary school teacher.

112. Mehler

It is derived from the German word ‘mehl’ meaning ‘flour.’ This surname refers someone whose ancestors worked as a flour merchant or miller.

113. Mendelson

It means ‘son of Mendel.’ The name Mendel is a Yiddish personal name and a diminutive form of ‘mendl’ meaning ‘man.’

114. Meyer

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname that comes from the Hebrew word ‘meir’ meaning ‘enlightened.’

115. Milgram

This name is derived from the Yiddish word ‘milgrym,’ which means ‘pomegranate.’

116. Mindel

It comes from the Yiddish feminine personal name ‘Mindl’ that likely comes from the Old High German word ‘minne’ meaning ‘love.’

117. Mizrahi

It is a toponymic name that means ‘easterner’ or ‘eastern people’ in Hebrew. The name was commonly associated with Jews who were originally native to the Middle East.

118. Morganstein

This Ashkenazi Jewish name is composed of the German elements ‘morgen’ meaning ‘morning’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

119. Moses

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.’

120. Nacht

This Ashkenazi Jewish surname comes from the German word ‘nacht’ meaning ‘night.’

121. Nemeroff

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish toponymic surname referring to those who originally came from the places of Nemirov in Ukraine or Neimirow in Poland.

122. Nerenberg

An alternative form of this surname is ‘Nierenberg.’ These names are toponymic and adopted by a family line that originally belonged to the city of Nuremberg in state of Bavaria of Germany.

123. Nudell

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.

124. Oberman

It is an elaborated version of the name ‘Ober’ that is derived from the German word ‘ober’ meaning ‘chief’ or ‘senior.’

125. Ortman

This surname is composed of the German words ‘ort’ meaning ‘place’ and ‘mann’ meaning ‘man.’

126. Osher

It is derived from the Hebrew word ‘ohsheher’ meaning ‘contentment’ or ‘happiness.’

127. Ostrov

It is a toponymic surname for someone from any of the several places called Ostrov in Russia and the Czech Republic. The word ‘ostrov’ means ‘island’ in Russian.

128. Perlman

This name is composed of the Yiddish elements ‘perl’ meaning ‘pearl and ‘man’ meaning ‘man. The name could be an occupational one or could refer to the husband of Perl, which is a common Jewish feminine name.

129. Polanski

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.

130. Portnoy

It is the Russian word for ‘tailor.’ The name is thus an occupational one.

131. Rabin

It means ‘rabbi’ in Polish and Ukrainian. The word ‘rabbi’ refers to Jewish religious teachers, and their name comes from the Jewish word ‘rav’ meaning ‘master.’

132. Rabinowitz

It is a Slavic patronymic form of Rabin and means ‘son of Rabbi.’

133. Rayman

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.

134. Reidel

This surname is a metonymic occupational name derived from the Yiddish word ‘reydl’ meaning a ‘little wheel.’

135. Rivlin

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.’

136. Romanoff

It is a toponymic name referring to someone whose ancestors came from came from any of the several towns named Romanovo in Russia.

137. Rosenbaum

This surname is an ornamental name adopted from the German phrase ‘rosen baum’ meaning ‘rose tree’ referring to the rose plant.

138. Rosenkranz

This surname is composed of the German words ‘rosen’ meaning ‘rose’ and ‘kranz’ meaning ‘wreath.’ The name thus means ‘rose wreath’

139. Rubin

It is a variation of the Hebrew name ‘Reuben.’ This name is composed of the Hebrew elements ‘reu’ meaning ‘behold’ and ‘ben’ meaning ‘a son.’

140. Ross

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.

141. Roth

The name comes from the German word ‘rot’ that means the color ‘red.’

142. Rothenberg

This is an ornamental name, which is a combination of the German elements ‘rot’ meaning ‘red’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

143. Rothschild

It has been taken from the Middle High German elements ‘rot’ meaning ‘red’ and ‘schilt’ meaning ‘shield’ or ‘sign.’

144. Ruderman

This is a metonymic occupational name composed of the Yiddish elements ‘ruder’ meaning ‘rudder’ or ‘oar’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’

145. Sachs

It is a toponymic name for those who belonged to the state of Saxony in Germany. The name Saxony comes from the ancient tribe of Saxons whose name comes from the Old German word ‘sahs’ meaning ‘knife’ or ‘small sword.’

146. Sackman

It is an elaborated form of ‘Sack’ which is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase ‘Zera Keshodim’ meaning ‘seed of the holy.’ The phrase refers to the martyrs of the Jewish community.

147. Sagan

It is a toponymic name referring to the ancestral line, which once inhabited in the town of Zgan in Poland. Another origin of this surname could be the Polish word ‘sagan’ that means ‘pot’ or ‘kettle.’ The name could have been used by those with the occupation of making teapots and kettles.

148. Salzberg

It is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name composed of the German word ‘salz’ meaning ‘salt’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

149. Sandler

It is derived from the Yiddish ‘sandler’ or Hebrew ’sandelar’ meaning ‘shoemaker.’ It refers to those with ancestors who worked as cobblers.

150. Saperstein

Jewish surname, Saperstein

Image: IStock

This name is made from the German elements ‘saphir’ meaning ‘sapphire’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

151. Sas

It is an acronym for ‘sofer stam,’ who is the Jewish scribe of religious texts. This surname has been adopted by those who were writers of religious texts.

152. Sasson

This Jewish surname is a variation of the name ‘Sason’ that means ‘joy’ or ‘happiness’ in Hebrew.

153. Savitz

This is an anglicized form of the name ‘Savich,’ which refers to the family line that belonged to a place called Savichi in Belarus.

154. Schatzman

It is composed of the German elements ‘Schatz’ meaning ‘treasure’ and ‘mann’ meaning ‘man.’

155. Scheiber

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.

156. Schapiro

This is a variant form of the toponymic name ‘Shapiro’ referring to European Jews who lived in the German city of Speyer.

157. Schaefer

It is derived from the German ‘schaf’ meaning ‘sheep.’ This surname refers to those whose ancestors were shepherds.

158. Schechter

It is derived from the Hebrew word ‘shachat’ for ‘butcher.’ The surname is thus an occupational one.

159. Schiffman

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.

160. Schneid

It is derived from the German word ‘schneide,’ which means a ‘blade.’ The name refers to those whose ancestors were in the profession of blade-making.

161. Schneider

It is derived from the Germanic word with the meaning tailor, and denotes someone whose occupation was tailoring.

162. Schor

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.

163. Schreiber

It is the German word for a ‘scribe’ or a ‘writer.’ The name could also have been derived from the Yiddish word ‘shreyber’ that means ‘scribe.’

164. Schwartzberg

This surname is made from the German elements ‘schwarz’ meaning ‘black’ and berg meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’ The toponymic name thus means ‘black mountain.’

165. Sebag

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.

166. Segal

The name comes from the Hebrew phrase ‘segan Leviyah’ which means ‘assistant Levite.’

The word Levite here refers to a member of a tribe called Levi, which according to the Bible was one of the tribes of Israel.

167. Shamash

This surname denotes to a sexton or beadle a synagogue. The sexton maintains the synagogue and works as a warden. The name refers to those whose ancestral profession was that of a Shamash.

168. Shapiro

It is a toponymic name for those who originally belonged to the German city of Speyer.

169. Sheffer

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.

170. Shulman

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.

171. Singer

It is derived from the Yiddish word ‘zinger,’ which means ‘singer.’ This occupational name was adopted by those who worked as a cantor in a synagogue.

172. Speyer

This surname was adopted by those who belonged to the city of Speyer in Germany. The town had a thriving Jewish population in the Middle Ages.

173. Spiegelberg

It is an ornamental name composed of the German words ‘spiegel’ meaning ‘mirror’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’

174. Steinbach

This toponymic Jewish surname originated from the German words ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone’ and ‘bach’ meaning ‘stream’ or a ‘creek.’

175. Sternbach

This surname is derived by combining the German words ‘stern’ meaning ‘star’ with ‘bach’ meaning ‘stream.’ The name is likely to have been a toponymic one.

176. Stillman

This was used as a nickname and originated from the combination of the German words ‘still’ meaning ‘quiet’ or ‘calm’ and ‘mann’ meaning ‘man.’

177. Talman

It is a toponymic name derived from the Germanic elements ‘tal’ meaning ‘valley’ and ‘man’ for ‘man.’

178. Tannenbaum

It is an ornamental name originating from the German word ‘Tannenbaum,’ which means ‘pine tree’ or ‘fir tree.’

179. Tilman

This is a metronymic name from the Yiddish feminine personal name ‘Tile’ taken from the Hebrew word ‘tehila’ meaning ‘splendor.’

180. Truman

It is a surname adopted by those from a Latvian village called Trumany in Russian.

181. Turner

It is a toponymic name for those who came from the city of Tarnow in Poland. The city is called ‘Turne’ in Yiddish.

182. Uhr

It is the Germanic word for ‘clock’ or ‘watch.’ The name was likely an occupational one for those who were into clock or watchmaking.

183. Ulman

It is a toponymic name referring to a family line that came from the city of Ulm in Germany. The name is composed of the name of the city with a suffix ‘-man’ added to it.

184. Vogel

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.

185. Wallace

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.

186. Weiner

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.

187. Weinreich

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.

188. Weiss

It means ‘white’ in German. The name would have referred to someone with very light skin or hair.

189. Winterstein

It is an ornamental surname composed of the German words ‘winter’ meaning ‘winter’ and ‘stein’ meaning ‘stone.’

190. Wohlberg

This name is composed of the German words ‘wohl’ meaning ‘well-being’ and berg meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

191. Yakel

It is a Jewish pet version of ‘Jacob.’ The name ‘Jacob’ is derived from Hebrew name ‘Yaakov’ meaning ‘supplanter.’

192. Yampolsky

It is a toponymic Jewish surname referring to those whose ancestors came from the town of Yampol in Ukraine.

193. Yurkovich

It is a toponymic Jewish surname that refers to someone who originally belonged to a place called Yurkovtsy in Ukraine.

194. Zalman

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.’

195. Zechman

It is a combination of the Yiddish word ‘tsekh’ meaning an ‘artisan’s guild’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’ This Jewish surname could have been an occupational one.

196. Zion

This surname is from the Hebrew ‘tsion’ referring to ‘Mount Zion’ which is a hill in Jerusalem.

197. Ziv

It is the Hebrew word for ‘charm,’ ‘brilliance’ or ‘radiance.’

198. Zuckerberg

This is an ornamental name derived from Germanic elements ‘zucker’ meaning ‘sugar’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’

199. Zuckerman

It means ‘sugarman’ in German and referred to a Jewish family line that were confectioners.

200. Zur

Zur, Jewish surname

Image: Shutterstock

It is an ornamental Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew word ‘tsur’ meaning a ‘rock.’

Discover More Names

When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do Jewish last names end in?

Jewish last names come from various origins, including family history, nationality, and language. Most Jewish last names end with ler, berg, feld, stein, and witz. Some examples include- Brownstein, Goldstein, Adler, Steinberg, and Cronenberg.

2. How did my Jewish ancestors get their surnames?

Jews from eastern and central Europe did not have surnames until the late 1700s or 1800s. Governments started giving out names to collect taxes or enlist individuals in the military. Some Jewish surnames may have come from Jewish-only occupations. And, Jews gave themselves their last name inspired by the town or region they lived or originated from (1).

3. Why do Jews change their last name?

Traditionally, Jews did not have surnames. However, they started adopting surnames in 1787. Those surnames were usually chosen to denote ancestral information, hereditary status, place of origin, or occupation but were sometimes assigned indiscriminately (2). Hence, Jews may change their last name as a means to fit in with the laws of another country such as the US or choose a more suitable last name that fits in with their characteristics.

4. How have Jewish surnames changed or evolved over time?

Over time, Jews have changed and adapted their surnames to meet the expectations of their times. For example, a person with the surname Simonovitz may have changed their surname to Simmons. This surname passed on through generations (3).

5. Are there any famous people with Jewish surnames?

Several people are Jewish and have Jewish surnames. Some of the notable personalities with Jewish surnames are award-winning director and producer, Steven Spielberg; Hollywood director, Stanley Kramer; scientist and researcher, Albery Einstein; comic book writer and editor, Stan Lee; and award-winning novelist Elie Wiesel.

Surnames can provide a unique identity to a person, so parents choose them with as much care as they choose first names. Surnames can be influenced by traditions, family history, or religion. Jewish surnames are quite popular worldwide because the Jewish community is spread all over the world. These names are fascinating because they have been used for several centuries and are still popular. So, if you are in awe of Jewish surnames, consider them for your baby. Explore the variety of surnames and their meanings in the list provided and choose the one that resonates with you.

Infographic: Famous Jewish Surnames

Jewish surnames are based on familial ancestry and culture, and several variations of the last names have evolved over the years. Here is an infographic that presents some of the most prominent Jewish surnames you may have heard at least once.

jewish surnames (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Jewish last names typically denote a person’s birthplace and job.
  • Over time, Jews have modified surnames to contemporary standards; for example, Simonovitz might become Simmons.
  • Most Jewish surnames end with suffixes like ler, feld, berg, stein, and witz.
  • Certain well-known surnames within the Jewish community, such as Sofer, Kantor, and Cohen, hold religious significance.

Did Jews always have a surname? Discover how names have been used to identify and connect Jewish communities.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. The Memi De-Shalit Database of Jewish Family Names at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People; Museum of the Jewish People
    https://dbs.anumuseum.org.il/skn/en/c6/e23552319/אודות/The_Memi_De_Shalit_Database_of_Jewish_Family_Names
  2. 10 Keys to Understanding Many Ashkenazi Surnames
    https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4825070/jewish/10-Keys-to-Understanding-Many-Ashkenazi-Surnames.htm
  3. An intriguing look at the history of Jewish name changing
    https://thecjn.ca/arts/books-and-authors/an-intriguing-look-at-the-history-of-jewish-name-changing/
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