Jewish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Origins and Meanings

Jewish last names, often referred to as surnames, represent a rich tapestry of history, culture, and tradition. These names, passed down through generations, hold profound meanings that reflect the diverse experiences and heritage of Jewish people worldwide. From biblical references to geographic origins, each last name offers a window into the past, providing insights into the lives, migrations, and occupations of individuals and families. This comprehensive guide explores a wide array of Jewish last names, delving into their etymological roots and the stories they tell.
1. **Abrams:** Hebrew origin, meaning "father of the exalted" or "father of height."
2. **Ackerman:** German origin, meaning "field man" or "farmer."
3. **Adler:** German origin, meaning "eagle."
4. **Agnew:** Scottish origin, meaning "descendant of the grandson."
5. **Alpert:** German origin, meaning "noble elf" or "noble spirit."
6. **Altman:** German origin, meaning "old man" or "elder."
7. **Amsterdam:** Dutch origin, referring to the city of Amsterdam.
8. **Anderson:** English origin, meaning "son of Andrew."
9. **Angel:** Hebrew origin, meaning "messenger of God."
10. **Aronson:** German origin, meaning "son of Aaron."
11. **Asher:** Hebrew origin, meaning "happy" or "blessed."
12. **Axelrod:** German origin, meaning "noble axle" or "noble tree."
13. **Bach:** German origin, meaning "stream" or "brook."
14. **Baker:** English origin, referring to a person who bakes bread.
15. **Baruch:** Hebrew origin, meaning "blessed" or "fortunate."
16. **Baum:** German origin, meaning "tree."
17. **Bell:** English origin, referring to a person who makes bells.
18. **Benjamin:** Hebrew origin, meaning "son of my right hand."
19. **Berger:** German origin, meaning "mountain" or "hill."
20. **Berman:** German origin, meaning "mountain man" or "dweller of the mountain."
21. **Bernstein:** German origin, meaning "amber" or "amber stone."
22. **Bialik:** Hebrew origin, meaning "a small house" or "a small dwelling."
23. **Bloom:** English origin, meaning "flower."
24. **Blumenthal:** German origin, meaning "flower valley" or "valley of flowers."
25. **Blum:** German origin, meaning "flower."
26. **Bochner:** German origin, meaning "bookkeeper" or "secretary."
27. **Cohen:** Hebrew origin, meaning "priest."
28. **Cooper:** English origin, referring to a person who makes barrels.
29. **David:** Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved" or "friend."
30. **Davis:** English origin, meaning "son of David."
31. **Edelman:** German origin, meaning "noble man" or "noble person."
32. **Eisenberg:** German origin, meaning "iron mountain" or "mountain of iron."
33. **Elias:** Hebrew origin, meaning "Yahweh is my God."
34. **Epstein:** German origin, meaning "stone corner" or "cornerstone."
35. **Feinberg:** German origin, meaning "fine mountain" or "beautiful mountain."
36. **Feldman:** German origin, meaning "field man" or "farmer."
37. **Finkelstein:** German origin, meaning "fine stone" or "beautiful stone."
38. **Fisher:** German origin, meaning "fisherman."
39. **Fox:** English origin, referring to the animal.
40. **Frank:** German origin, meaning "free" or "independent."
41. **Freedman:** English origin, meaning "free man."
42. **Friedman:** German origin, meaning "peace man" or "man of peace."
43. **Gabel:** German origin, meaning "fork."
44. **Gans:** German origin, meaning "goose."
45. **Garber:** German origin, meaning "gardener."
46. **Geller:** German origin, meaning "bell maker" or "bell ringer."
47. **Gerson:** Hebrew origin, meaning "stranger" or "sojourner."
48. **Goldberg:** German origin, meaning "golden mountain" or "mountain of gold."
49. **Golden:** English origin, meaning "of gold."
50. **Goldman:** German origin, meaning "gold man" or "man of gold."
51. **Goldstein:** German origin, meaning "gold stone" or "stone of gold."
52. **Goodman:** English origin, meaning "good man."
53. **Greenberg:** German origin, meaning "green mountain" or "mountain of green."
54. **Greenbaum:** German origin, meaning "green tree" or "tree of green."
55. **Grossman:** German origin, meaning "big man" or "large man."
56. **Guttman:** German origin, meaning "good man" or "kind man."
57. **Haber:** German origin, meaning "possessor" or "owner."
58. **Halpern:** German origin, meaning "half-elf" or "half-spirit."
59. **Handler:** German origin, meaning "handler" or "merchant."
60. **Harris:** English origin, meaning "son of Harry."
61. **Hartman:** German origin, meaning "heart man" or "man of heart."
62. **Harvey:** English origin, meaning "battle-worthy" or "strong in war."
63. **Heller:** German origin, meaning "bright" or "shining."
64. **Herman:** German origin, meaning "army man" or "warrior."
65. **Hersh:** Hebrew origin, meaning "joy" or "happiness."
66. **Herskowitz:** German origin, meaning "Hersh's son" or "son of joy."
67. **Hirsch:** German origin, meaning "deer."
68. **Hoffman:** German origin, meaning "court man" or "court official."
69. **Horowitz:** German origin, meaning "high horizon" or "high vantage point."
70. **Isaac:** Hebrew origin, meaning "he will laugh."
71. **Israel:** Hebrew origin, meaning "God struggles" or "God prevails."
72. **Jacobs:** English origin, meaning "son of Jacob."
73. **Jacobson:** English origin, meaning "son of Jacob."
74. **Jaffee:** German origin, meaning "yellow."
75. **Jastrow:** German origin, meaning "stone builder" or "stone worker."
76. **Katz:** German origin, meaning "cat."
77. **Kaufman:** German origin, meaning "buyer" or "merchant."
78. **Kessler:** German origin, meaning "cheese maker" or "cheese seller."
79. **Klein:** German origin, meaning "small."
80. **Kline:** German origin, meaning "small."
81. **Kohn:** German origin, meaning "king."
82. **Kopelman:** German origin, meaning "little man" or "small man."
83. **Kramer:** German origin, meaning "shopkeeper" or "merchant."
84. **Kravitz:** German origin, meaning "herb" or "spice."
85. **Langer:** German origin, meaning "long" or "tall."
86. **Lasky:** German origin, meaning "listener" or "hearer."
87. **Lazar:** Hebrew origin, meaning "God helps."
88. **Leibowitz:** German origin, meaning "Leib's son" or "son of lion."
89. **Levi:** Hebrew origin, meaning "joined" or "connected."
90. **Levin:** German origin, meaning "lion."
91. **Levitan:** Hebrew origin, meaning "son of Levi."
92. **Levinson:** Hebrew origin, meaning "son of Levi."
93. **Lewis:** German origin, meaning "famous warrior" or "famous fighter."
94. **Lichtenstein:** German origin, meaning "light stone" or "stone of light."
95. **Lieberman:** German origin, meaning "dear man" or "beloved man."
96. **Lipschutz:** German origin, meaning "lip protection" or "lip guard."
97. **Lipsitz:** German origin, meaning "lip seat" or "seat of the lips."
98. **Litvak:** Hebrew origin, referring to a person from Lithuania.
99. **Loeb:** German origin, meaning "lion."
100. **Loman:** German origin, meaning "man of the people" or "common man."