Last Names of Jewish Origins: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you researching your family history or simply curious about the origins of Jewish last names? This comprehensive guide provides a detailed list of over 40 last names of Jewish origin, along with their rich and diverse meanings. From biblical references to geographical locations and occupational titles, these names offer a glimpse into the historical and cultural tapestry of Jewish heritage. Explore the fascinating stories behind these surnames and deepen your understanding of Jewish identity.
1. **Abrahams:** Derived from the Hebrew name "Abraham," meaning "father of many nations."
2. **Ackerman:** Meaning "field man" in German, referring to someone who worked the land.
3. **Adler:** German for "eagle," symbolizing strength and nobility.
4. **Alpert:** From the Hebrew "Alpert," meaning "God is great."
5. **Altman:** German for "old man," often a title of respect for a wise elder.
6. **Aronson:** Meaning "son of Aaron," a biblical high priest.
7. **Asher:** A Hebrew name meaning "happy," "blessed," or "fortunate."
8. **Axelrod:** From the German "Achsel" (armpit) and "Rod" (rod), possibly referring to a profession related to weaving or farming.
9. **Baer:** German for "bear," symbolizing strength and power.
10. **Baruch:** Hebrew name meaning "blessed."
11. **Bell:** Derived from the Hebrew "Bel," meaning "Lord," signifying devotion to God.
12. **Ben-David:** Meaning "son of David," referencing the biblical king David.
13. **Benjamin:** Hebrew name meaning "son of the right hand," symbolizing strength and favor.
14. **Berger:** German for "mountain," a topographic name indicating a person's place of origin.
15. **Berkowitz:** From the Hebrew "Ber" (son) and "Kowitz" (covenant), meaning "son of the covenant."
16. **Berman:** From the Hebrew "Ber" (son) and "Man" (man), meaning "son of man."
17. **Bialik:** A Yiddish word meaning "small house" or "dwelling," possibly a place name.
18. **Bloom:** German for "flower," signifying beauty and growth.
19. **Blumenthal:** German for "flower valley," a descriptive place name.
20. **Cohen:** Hebrew for "priest," referring to descendants of the priestly line of Aaron.
21. **David:** Hebrew name meaning "beloved" or "friend."
22. **Davidson:** Meaning "son of David," referencing the biblical king David.
23. **Davis:** Derived from the Hebrew "David," meaning "beloved."
24. **Edelman:** German for "noble man," a title of honor.
25. **Eisenberg:** German for "iron mountain," a descriptive place name.
26. **Epstein:** From the Hebrew "Epstein," meaning "stone of the covenant."
27. **Feldstein:** German for "field stone," a place name referring to a specific location.
28. **Feinberg:** German for "fine mountain," a descriptive place name.
29. **Feldman:** German for "field man," referring to someone who worked the land.
30. **Finkelstein:** From the German "Fink" (finch) and "Stein" (stone), possibly referencing a bird or a location.
31. **Fisher:** German for "fisherman," an occupational name.
32. **Fox:** English for "fox," possibly an occupational name or a nickname.
33. **Frank:** German for "free," possibly a nickname for a person who was independent.
34. **Friedman:** From the German "Fried" (peace) and "Man" (man), meaning "peaceful man."
35. **Goldberg:** German for "golden mountain," a descriptive place name.
36. **Goldman:** German for "golden man," a name indicating wealth or prosperity.
37. **Goldstein:** German for "golden stone," a descriptive place name.
38. **Greenberg:** German for "green mountain," a descriptive place name.
39. **Grossman:** German for "big man," possibly a nickname for someone who was tall or influential.
40. **Harris:** Derived from the Hebrew "Har" (mountain) and "is" (God), meaning "mountain of God."
41. **Hartman:** German for "heart man," suggesting a kind or compassionate person.
42. **Herman:** German for "soldier" or "warrior."
43. **Hoffman:** German for "hope man," suggesting a hopeful or optimistic person.
44. **Horowitz:** From the Hebrew "Hor" (mountain) and "owitz" (place), meaning "from the mountain."
45. **Isaac:** Hebrew name meaning "laughter."
46. **Jacobs:** Derived from the Hebrew name "Jacob," meaning "he will prevail."
47. **Jacobson:** Meaning "son of Jacob," referencing the biblical patriarch Jacob.
48. **Jaffee:** From the Hebrew "Yaffa," meaning "beautiful."
49. **Kaplan:** From the Hebrew "Kaplan," meaning "priest" or "rabbi."
50. **Katz:** Yiddish for "cat," possibly a nickname or a place name.
51. **Kessler:** From the German "Kessel" (kettle), possibly an occupational name related to making or using kettles.
52. **Klein:** German for "small," possibly a nickname or a place name.
53. **Kline:** German for "small," possibly a nickname or a place name.
54. **Kogan:** From the Hebrew "Kogan," meaning "priest."
55. **Kramer:** German for "merchant" or "shopkeeper."
56. **Kravitz:** From the Hebrew "Kravitz," meaning "stone of the covenant."
57. **Lederman:** German for "leather man," an occupational name referring to someone who worked with leather.
58. **Leibowitz:** From the Hebrew "Leib" (heart) and "owitz" (place), meaning "from the heart."
59. **Levi:** Hebrew name meaning "joined" or "connected," referring to descendants of the tribe of Levi.
60. **Levin:** From the Hebrew "Levin," meaning "lightning," possibly a nickname for someone who was quick or sharp.
61. **Levitan:** From the Hebrew "Levi," meaning "joined," referring to descendants of the tribe of Levi.
62. **Lipschitz:** From the German "Lip" (lip) and "Schitz" (cut), possibly an occupational name related to tailoring or carpentry.
63. **Liss:** From the German "Liss" (smooth), possibly a nickname or a place name.
64. **Litvak:** From the Lithuanian "Litvak," meaning "Lithuanian," a name indicating a person's place of origin.
65. **Loeb:** From the Hebrew "Leib," meaning "heart."
66. **Lubin:** From the German "Lube" (love) and "in" (in), possibly a place name or a nickname for someone who was loving.
67. **Marcus:** Latin name derived from the Greek "Ares," the god of war.
68. **Marks:** Derived from the Hebrew "Mark," meaning "silver."
69. **Mayer:** From the Hebrew "Mayir," meaning "enlightened."
70. **Miller:** English for "miller," an occupational name referring to someone who worked in a mill.
71. **Mintz:** From the German "Minze" (mint), possibly an occupational name or a place name.
72. **Morgenstern:** German for "morning star," signifying a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
73. **Moskowitz:** From the Hebrew "Moshe" (Moses) and "kowitz" (place), meaning "from the place of Moses."
74. **Nathan:** Hebrew name meaning "gift from God."
75. **Neuman:** German for "new man," possibly a nickname for a person who had moved to a new place or had a new start in life.
76. **Novak:** From the Slavic "Novak," meaning "newcomer," possibly a nickname for a person who had recently arrived in a place.
77. **Ostrov:** From the Hebrew "Ostrov," meaning "island," possibly a place name.
78. **Paley:** From the Hebrew "Pal" (miracle) and "ey" (God), meaning "miracle of God."
79. **Pearlman:** From the Hebrew "Pearl" (pearl) and "man" (man), meaning "man of pearls."
80. **Perlmutter:** From the Hebrew "Pearl" (pearl) and "mutter" (mother), meaning "mother of pearls."
81. **Pollack:** From the German "Pol" (pole) and "ack" (field), possibly a place name or a nickname for someone who worked in a field.
82. **Rabin:** From the Hebrew "Rabin," meaning "rabbi."
83. **Reisman:** From the German "Reis" (rice) and "man" (man), possibly an occupational name related to rice farming or processing.
84. **Rosen:** German for "rose," signifying beauty and love.
85. **Rosenberg:** German for "rose mountain," a descriptive place name.
86. **Rosenbaum:** German for "rose tree," signifying beauty and growth.
87. **Rosenblatt:** German for "rose leaf," symbolizing beauty and delicacy.
88. **Roth:** German for "red," possibly a nickname or a place name.
89. **Rubin:** From the Hebrew "Rubin," meaning "ruby," signifying passion and love.
90. **Sachs:** German for "sacks," possibly an occupational name referring to someone who worked with sacks.
91. **Salzman:** From the Hebrew "Salman," meaning "peace man."
92. **Sandler:** From the German "Sand" (sand) and "ler" (one who works with), possibly an occupational name related to working with sand.
93. **Schwartz:** German for "black," possibly a nickname or a place name.
94. **Shapiro:** From the Hebrew "Shapira," meaning "beautiful."
95. **Silverman:** From the German "Silber" (silver) and "man" (man), meaning "man of silver."
96. **Simons:** Derived from the Hebrew name "Simon," meaning "listener."
97. **Singer:** English for "singer," an occupational name.
98. **Smith:** English for "smith," an occupational name referring to someone who worked with metal.
99. **Solomon:** Hebrew name meaning "peaceful."
100. **Steinberg:** German for "stone mountain," a descriptive place name.
101. **Stern:** German for "star," signifying hope and guidance.
102. **Strauss:** German for "ostrich," possibly a nickname or a place name.
103. **Sussman:** From the Hebrew "Suss" (sweet) and "man" (man), meaning "sweet man."
104. **Tanenbaum:** From the German "Tanne" (fir tree) and "Baum" (tree), possibly a place name or a nickname for someone who lived near a fir tree.
105. **Tannenbaum:** From the German "Tanne" (fir tree) and "Baum" (tree), possibly a place name or a nickname for someone who lived near a fir tree.
106. **Teitelbaum:** From the Hebrew "Teitel" (crown) and "Baum" (tree), meaning "tree of the crown."
107. **Thaler:** German for "dollar," possibly an occupational name or a place name.
108. **Tobias:** Hebrew name meaning "God is good."
109. **Weiner:** From the German "Wein" (wine) and "er" (one who works with), possibly an occupational name related to working with wine.
110. **Weiss:** German for "white," possibly a nickname or a place name.
111. **Weisberg:** German for "white mountain," a descriptive place name.
112. **Weinstein:** German for "white stone," a descriptive place name.
113. **Wexler:** From the German "Wachs" (wax) and "ler" (one who works with), possibly an occupational name related to working with wax.
114. **Wolf:** German for "wolf," possibly a nickname or a place name.
115. **Wolff:** German for "wolf," possibly a nickname or a place name.
116. **Zuckerman:** From the German "Zucker" (sugar) and "man" (man), meaning "man of sugar."
117. **Zimmerman:** German for "carpenter," an occupational name.