Jewish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

This comprehensive guide delves into the world of Jewish last names, exploring their rich history and diverse origins. From Hebrew roots to geographical influences, these surnames often tell fascinating stories about their bearers and their ancestral connections. We'll examine the meanings behind some of the most common and intriguing Jewish last names, providing a valuable resource for those seeking to understand their own family history and heritage.
1. **Abramson:** Son of Abraham; a common Jewish surname that reflects the importance of the biblical patriarch Abraham.
2. **Adelman:** Noble man; derived from the German words "edel" (noble) and "Mann" (man).
3. **Aisenberg:** Mountain of God; a combination of the Hebrew words "har" (mountain) and "Elohim" (God).
4. **Alter:** Old; derived from the Yiddish word "alt" (old).
5. **Altman:** Old man; a combination of the Yiddish words "alt" (old) and "mann" (man).
6. **Aron:** Hebrew for "light" or "strong"; a popular surname often associated with the biblical figure Aaron.
7. **Ashkenazi:** Of Ashkenazic Jewish origin; a reference to the historical region of Ashkenaz, which encompasses Eastern and Central Europe.
8. **Avram:** Hebrew for "father of many"; a variant of the name Abraham.
9. **Bacher:** Baker; a surname derived from the German word "Bäcker" (baker).
10. **Barnett:** Son of Bernard; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name "Baruch" (blessed).
11. **Baum:** Tree; derived from the German word "Baum" (tree).
12. **Berkowitz:** Son of the priest; a combination of the Hebrew words "ben" (son) and "kohen" (priest).
13. **Berman:** Man of the mountain; derived from the German words "Berg" (mountain) and "Mann" (man).
14. **Bloom:** Flower; derived from the English word "bloom".
15. **Blumenthal:** Flower valley; derived from the German words "Blume" (flower) and "Tal" (valley).
16. **Cohen:** Priest; a Hebrew surname denoting a descendant of the priestly tribe of Levi.
17. **David:** Beloved; a Hebrew surname derived from the name of King David, a revered figure in Judaism.
18. **Diamond:** A precious gem; derived from the English word "diamond".
19. **Eisenberg:** Mountain of iron; a combination of the Hebrew words "har" (mountain) and "Eisen" (iron).
20. **Epstein:** Son of Ephraim; a patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Ephraim.
21. **Feldman:** Man of the field; derived from the German words "Feld" (field) and "Mann" (man).
22. **Finkelstein:** Son of the little stone; a combination of the Hebrew words "ben" (son) and "kleinstein" (little stone).
23. **Fischer:** Fisherman; derived from the German word "Fischer" (fisherman).
24. **Fox:** A sly and cunning animal; derived from the English word "fox".
25. **Frankel:** Freely spoken; derived from the German word "Frank" (free).
26. **Friedman:** Man of peace; derived from the Yiddish words "fried" (peace) and "mann" (man).
27. **Garfinkel:** Little garden; a combination of the Hebrew words "gan" (garden) and "kleinstein" (little stone).
28. **Goldberg:** Mountain of gold; derived from the German words "Gold" (gold) and "Berg" (mountain).
29. **Goldman:** Golden man; derived from the German words "Gold" (gold) and "Mann" (man).
30. **Greenberg:** Green mountain; derived from the German words "Grün" (green) and "Berg" (mountain).
31. **Grossman:** Big man; derived from the German words "Gross" (big) and "Mann" (man).
32. **Gutman:** Good man; derived from the Yiddish words "gut" (good) and "mann" (man).
33. **Halpern:** Half of the pear; derived from the Yiddish words "halb" (half) and "peer" (pear).
34. **Harris:** Guard; derived from the English word "haris".
35. **Herman:** Warrior; derived from the German name "Hermann".
36. **Horowitz:** Of the horizon; derived from the Hebrew word "hor" (horizon).
37. **Jacobs:** Son of Jacob; a patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Jacob.
38. **Jacobson:** Son of Jacob; a patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Jacob.
39. **Kaplan:** Priest; derived from the Hebrew word "kohen" (priest).
40. **Katz:** Cat; derived from the Yiddish word "katz" (cat).
41. **Kaufman:** Merchant; derived from the German word "Kaufmann" (merchant).
42. **Klein:** Small; derived from the German word "klein" (small).
43. **Kline:** Small; derived from the German word "klein" (small).
44. **Kohn:** Priest; derived from the Hebrew word "kohen" (priest).
45. **Kramer:** Merchant; derived from the German word "Kramer" (merchant).
46. **Landau:** Land of God; derived from the Hebrew words "aretz" (land) and "Elohim" (God).
47. **Langer:** Long; derived from the German word "lang" (long).
48. **Levi:** To join; a Hebrew surname denoting a descendant of the tribe of Levi.
49. **Levin:** Son of Levi; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name Levi.
50. **Lipschitz:** Lip reader; derived from the Yiddish words "lip" (lip) and "shitz" (reader).
51. **Litvak:** Lithuanian Jew; a surname referring to a person of Lithuanian Jewish origin.
52. **Luria:** Of the lion; derived from the Hebrew word "ari" (lion).
53. **Mann:** Man; derived from the German word "Mann" (man).
54. **Marcus:** Defender; derived from the Latin name "Marcus".
55. **Margolis:** Son of a shepherd; derived from the Hebrew words "mar" (son) and "roi" (shepherd).
56. **Mayer:** Great; derived from the German name "Mayer".
57. **Melnick:** Honey merchant; derived from the Yiddish words "meln" (honey) and "nik" (merchant).
58. **Mendel:** Mind; derived from the Hebrew word "mendel" (mind).
59. **Meyer:** Great; derived from the German name "Mayer".
60. **Miller:** Miller; derived from the English word "miller".
61. **Mirsky:** Of the world; derived from the Hebrew word "olam" (world).
62. **Moskowitz:** Son of Moses; a patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Moses.
63. **Nathan:** Given; a Hebrew surname derived from the name of the prophet Nathan.
64. **Neuman:** New man; derived from the German words "neu" (new) and "Mann" (man).
65. **Novack:** Newcomer; derived from the Yiddish word "novak" (newcomer).
66. **Ostrov:** Island; derived from the Russian word "ostrov" (island).
67. **Perlmutter:** Pearl of the mother; derived from the Yiddish words "perl" (pearl) and "mutter" (mother).
68. **Pollack:** Small fish; derived from the Yiddish word "pollak" (small fish).
69. **Rabin:** Rabbi; derived from the Hebrew word "rav" (rabbi).
70. **Rabinowitz:** Son of the rabbi; a combination of the Hebrew words "ben" (son) and "rav" (rabbi).
71. **Reisman:** Rice man; derived from the Yiddish words "reis" (rice) and "mann" (man).
72. **Rosen:** Rose; derived from the German word "Rose" (rose).
73. **Rosenberg:** Rose mountain; derived from the German words "Rose" (rose) and "Berg" (mountain).
74. **Rosenblatt:** Rose leaf; derived from the German words "Rose" (rose) and "Blatt" (leaf).
75. **Rosenthal:** Rose valley; derived from the German words "Rose" (rose) and "Tal" (valley).
76. **Roth:** Red; derived from the German word "rot" (red).
77. **Rubin:** Ruby; derived from the English word "ruby".
78. **Sachs:** Sack; derived from the German word "Sachs" (sack).
79. **Salomon:** Peaceful; a variant of the Hebrew name Solomon.
80. **Samson:** Sun; derived from the Hebrew name "Shimshon" (Samson).
81. **Sanders:** Defender; derived from the German word "Sander" (defender).
82. **Schaefer:** Shepherd; derived from the German word "Schäfer" (shepherd).
83. **Schiff:** Ship; derived from the German word "Schiff" (ship).
84. **Schneider:** Tailor; derived from the German word "Schneider" (tailor).
85. **Schwartz:** Black; derived from the German word "Schwarz" (black).
86. **Segal:** Messenger; derived from the Hebrew word "shaliach" (messenger).
87. **Shapiro:** Beautiful; derived from the Hebrew word "shafir" (beautiful).
88. **Silberman:** Silver man; derived from the German words "Silber" (silver) and "Mann" (man).
89. **Silverman:** Silver man; derived from the German words "Silber" (silver) and "Mann" (man).
90. **Simon:** Heard; a Hebrew surname derived from the name of the apostle Simon Peter.
91. **Singer:** Singer; derived from the English word "singer".
92. **Smith:** Blacksmith; derived from the English word "smith".
93. **Solomon:** Peaceful; a Hebrew surname derived from the name of King Solomon, a revered figure in Judaism.
94. **Stein:** Stone; derived from the German word "Stein" (stone).
95. **Steinberg:** Stone mountain; derived from the German words "Stein" (stone) and "Berg" (mountain).
96. **Stern:** Star; derived from the German word "Stern" (star).
97. **Stone:** Stone; derived from the English word "stone".
98. **Straus:** Ostrich; derived from the German word "Strauss" (ostrich).
99. **Susman:** Son of Susan; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name "Shoshana" (Susan).
100. **Sussman:** Son of Susan; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name "Shoshana" (Susan).
101. **Tannenbaum:** Fir tree; derived from the German words "Tanne" (fir) and "Baum" (tree).
102. **Teitelbaum:** Fruit tree; derived from the Yiddish words "teitel" (fruit) and "baum" (tree).
103. **Tobias:** God is good; a Hebrew surname derived from the name of the angel Tobias.
104. **Trachtenberg:** Cloth mountain; derived from the Yiddish words "trachten" (cloth) and "berg" (mountain).
105. **Unger:** Young; derived from the German word "Jung" (young).
106. **Weinstein:** Wine stone; derived from the German words "Wein" (wine) and "Stein" (stone).
107. **Weiss:** White; derived from the German word "Weiss" (white).
108. **Weizman:** Wiseman; derived from the Yiddish words "weis" (wise) and "mann" (man).
109. **Wexler:** Changer of money; derived from the German word "Wexler" (changer of money).
110. **Wiener:** Viennese; a surname denoting a person of Viennese Jewish origin.
111. **Wolf:** Wolf; derived from the English word "wolf".
112. **Wolff:** Wolf; derived from the German word "Wolf" (wolf).
113. **Woolf:** Wolf; derived from the English word "wolf".
114. **Yanover:** From Yanov; a surname derived from the town of Yanov in Eastern Europe.
115. **Yellin:** From Yellin; a surname derived from the town of Yellin in Eastern Europe.
116. **Yudkin:** Son of Judah; a patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Judah.
117. **Zakheim:** From Zakheim; a surname derived from the town of Zakheim in Eastern Europe.
118. **Zuckerman:** Sugar man; derived from the German words "Zucker" (sugar) and "Mann" (man).
119. **Zusman:** Son of Zus; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name "Zus" (Zus).