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Feb 11, 2023 · Although you generally can't identify Jewish ancestry by a surname alone, here are 100 common Jewish last names and their Hebrew meanings.
Compiled by Rabbi Shmuel Gorr. Jewish names are the hallmark of Jewish identity. This list aggregates common Jewish names from Biblical, Talmudic and post-Talmudic eras. Jewish parents name their children for (departed) loved ones, for special events, or choose any Jewish name that they find beautiful.
It is customary to give a Jewish child a Hebrew name in addition to his or her English name. The Hebrew name is how the child will be known in the Jewish community when he or she is called up to the Torah, and gets married.
- Cohen and Its Variants. Among the most ubiquitous of Jewish last names, Cohen is common in families that descend from Aaron the High Priest. The priests, kohanim, served in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and they still enjoy distinction today (giving the priestly blessing and being called up first to the Torah, among other privileges).
- Levy and Its Variants. Levy is a common surname among families descending from the tribe of Levi (one of the 12 tribes of Israel). Historically, this tribe was responsible for guarding the Temple and singing when sacrifices were brought.
- Patronymics and Matronymics. Many Jewish surnames are patronymic (based on the name of a father or other male ancestor), denoted by the suffix -s, -son, -ovitch/-owitz, or -ovics.
- Location-Based Surnames. Very often a surname provides a clue as to the family’s place of origin. Location-based surnames include Brody (a city in present-day Ukraine), Halpern (the German city of Heilbronn), Frankel (the German region of Franconia), Schlesinger (from Schlesien (Silesia)), Gordon (Grodno in Belarus) Pollack (from Poland), Auerbach and Epstein (both towns in Germany), Ginzburg (the Bavarian town of Gunzburg), Wiener (from Vienna), Danziger (from Danzig, now Gdansk, Poland), Deutsch (German), Horowitz (the Bohemian town of Horovice), Gurevitch/Gorowitz (the Russian version of Horowitz), Schapiro (the German city of Speyer), Landau (a town in Germany), Posner (from Posen, now Poznan, Poland), Mintz (Mainz, Germany), Oppenheimer (from Oppenheim, Germany), Ostreicher (from Austria), Prager (from Prague, Czech Republic), Unger (from Hungary).
The Jewish name is usually either Hebrew or Yiddish, and it is the name that will be used when the child is called up to the Torah, and gets married. Those who convert to Judaism also traditionally pick a Jewish name for themselves at that time. Choosing the right Jewish name for a child is very important. According to tradition a name has ...
Jewish (Hebrew) Names. Jewish names are the hallmark of Jewish identity. Jewish parents name their children for (departed) loved ones, for special events, or choose any Jewish name that they find beautiful. A Jewish boy's name is given at his circumcision, and a girl's name is traditionally conferred at the Torah reading shortly after her birth.
Dec 12, 2023 · Understanding Jewish surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors. This section discusses the origin and development of Jewish names and naming patterns.
