Hebrew Last Names: A Guide to Common Surnames and Their Meanings

Looking for the meaning behind a Hebrew last name? This comprehensive guide explores the origins and significance of common Hebrew surnames, offering insight into their historical and cultural context. From biblical references to geographic locations, these names offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Jewish heritage.
1. **Abraham:** Father of a multitude, exalted father
2. **Aharon:** Mountain of strength, powerful mountain
3. **Aizenberg:** Iron mountain, mountain of iron
4. **Alon:** Oak tree, strong and enduring
5. **Alter:** Old, ancient, venerable
6. **Amiel:** God is my strength, my God is my strength
7. **Amitai:** My strength is God, God is my strength
8. **Asher:** Happy, blessed, fortunate
9. **Avigdor:** Strong father, father of strength
10. **Avraham:** Father of a multitude, exalted father
11. **Barak:** Lightning, flash of lightning
12. **Ben-David:** Son of David, descendant of David
13. **Ben-Jacob:** Son of Jacob, descendant of Jacob
14. **Ben-Shalom:** Son of peace, descendant of peace
15. **Ben-Yehuda:** Son of Judah, descendant of Judah
16. **Berman:** Man of the mountain, mountain man
17. **Cohen:** Priest, descendant of Aaron
18. **David:** Beloved, loved, friend
19. **Eisenberg:** Iron mountain, mountain of iron
20. **Eliyahu:** My God is Yahweh, Yahweh is my God
21. **Emanuel:** God is with us, God is our strength
22. **Epstein:** Stone of the end, final stone
23. **Ezra:** Help, assistance, aid
24. **Feldman:** Field man, man of the field
25. **Fein:** Fine, delicate, beautiful
26. **Finkelstein:** Small stone, little stone
27. **Friedman:** Peaceful man, man of peace
28. **Goldberg:** Golden mountain, mountain of gold
29. **Greenberg:** Green mountain, mountain of green
30. **Grodinsky:** Of Grodno, from Grodno
31. **HaLevi:** With the Levites, belonging to the Levites
32. **Harpaz:** Golden mountain, mountain of gold
33. **Hershkowitz:** Hare's son, son of the hare
34. **Hoffman:** Hopeful man, man of hope
35. **Isaac:** He will laugh, laughter
36. **Israel:** He who struggles with God, God struggles
37. **Jacob:** He who supplants, he who holds the heel
38. **Jaffee:** Beautiful, handsome, attractive
39. **Kaplan:** Priest, descendant of Aaron
40. **Katz:** Fox, cunning, sly
41. **Kessler:** Small pot, little pot
42. **Klein:** Small, little, tiny
43. **Kohn:** King, ruler, sovereign
44. **Kramer:** Merchant, trader, dealer
45. **Levi:** Attached, joined, connected
46. **Levin:** Lion, strong, courageous
47. **Liberman:** Free man, man of freedom
48. **Lieberman:** Free man, man of freedom
49. **Lipshitz:** Lip man, man of the lip
50. **Lvov:** Lion, strong, courageous
51. **Magid:** Teacher, preacher, speaker
52. **Melamed:** Teacher, instructor, tutor
53. **Mendel:** He who sees, one who sees
54. **Meyer:** Light, illumination, brightness
55. **Miller:** Miller, grinder, one who grinds
56. **Nachman:** Comfort, consolation, solace
57. **Nathan:** Gift, God has given, God's gift
58. **Neiman:** Careful, attentive, diligent
59. **Novak:** New, fresh, young
60. **Orenstein:** Stone of the forest, forest stone
61. **Perlman:** Pearl man, man of the pearl
62. **Rabin:** Rabbi, teacher, interpreter
63. **Reisman:** Great man, mighty man
64. **Rosenberg:** Rose mountain, mountain of roses
65. **Rosenblum:** Rose flower, rose bloom
66. **Rothschild:** Red shield, shield of red
67. **Rubin:** Ruby, red, precious stone
68. **Sachs:** Sack, bag, container
69. **Safdie:** Grandfather, ancestor, patriarch
70. **Salomon:** Peace, tranquility, harmony
71. **Samuel:** God has heard, God has listened
72. **Schwartz:** Black, dark, dusky
73. **Shapiro:** Beautiful, handsome, attractive
74. **Silverman:** Silver man, man of silver
75. **Simon:** He who listens, he who hears
76. **Singer:** Singer, one who sings
77. **Sorkin:** Little, small, tiny
78. **Stein:** Stone, rock, gem
79. **Stern:** Star, light, celestial body
80. **Strauss:** Bush, thicket, grove
81. **Susman:** Lily, flower, blossom
82. **Teitelbaum:** Palm tree, date palm
83. **Tobias:** God is good, Yahweh is good
84. **Weinstein:** Wine stone, stone of wine
85. **Weiss:** White, pale, fair
86. **Wexler:** He who changes, one who changes
87. **Yankelovich:** Jacob's son, son of Jacob
88. **Yitzchak:** He will laugh, laughter
89. **Zalman:** Eternal God, God of eternity
90. **Zuckerman:** Sugar man, man of sugar