Few other naming narratives are as fascinating as Jewish last names. The Jewish people originated from the Israelite nation, which can be traced back to early biblical times. Many ancient surnames arose from their ancestors, while others were created as Jewish people traveled the globe. This journey resulted in a confusing array of Jewish names based on lineage, occupation, and location.
Head back in time with our engaging list of Jewish last names that tell a unique story. By learning how they evolved, you’ll discover the fascinating history behind Jewish last names and their use throughout time.
100 Popular Jewish Last Names
Dive into the roots of Jewish last names with a unique tale to tell.
Abate
Abate is an example of a Jewish last name with Italian connections. It’s an occupational surname meaning “rabbi,” based on the Latin “abbas,” meaning “priest.” Whether a nickname for a priest or a priest’s descendant, Abate sure has a story to tell.
- Origin: Jewish, Italian
- Meaning: Abbot, priest
- Pronunciation: Ah-BAA-tey
- Namesakes: Rosa Silvana Abate, an Italian senator for the Five Star Movement since 2018. Carmine Abate, an Italian writer known for the novel Tra due mari (2002).
- Popularity: Abate is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Ethiopia, where it ranked 34th in 2014.
Abrams
Abrams is a somewhat common name for “the son of Abraham,” taken from the biblical name Abram. In the Bible, Abraham was called “the father of a multitude of nations.”
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Son of Abraham
- Pronunciation: AY-brahms
- Variations: Abramson, Abrahams
- Namesakes: Dan Abrams, an American host of Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation. Cal Abrams, an American baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- Popularity: Abrams is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S., ranking 1,172nd in 2014.
Abulafia
Abulafia is one of many Sephardic Jewish surnames originating in Spain. It relates to the Spanish surname Abolafio after Sephardic Jews left in 1492 for Italy, where they became Abolaffio.
- Origin: Jewish, Arabic
- Meaning: Father of health
- Pronunciation: Ah-buw-LAH-fiy-Ah
- Variations: Abolafia
- Namesakes: Yossi Abulafia, an Israeli children’s book author known for HaKina Nechama (1990). David Abulafia, an English historian awarded the 2020 Wolfson History Prize.
- Popularity: Abulafia is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Argentina.
Abutbul
Abutbul is one of the more mysterious Jewish family names with an unknown origin. Its spelling likely links it to an Arabic or Sephardic last name.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Ah-BOOT-buhl
- Namesakes: Alon Abutbul, an Israeli actor who won the IFFI Best Actor Award at India’s 44th International Film Festival. Shay Abutbul, an Israeli footballer for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
- Popularity: Abutbul is extremely rare worldwide, with 75 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the U.S.
Acker
In Germany, Acker is associated with the word for an “acre.” When it appears as Ackerman, it means “plowman.” In England, Acker means “of the acre” for those living near a field.
- Origin: Jewish, English
- Meaning: Plowed field
- Pronunciation: AA-kher
- Variations: Ackerman
- Namesakes: Sharon Acker, a Canadian actress known for the series The New Perry Mason. Bill Acker, an American football player for the Buffalo Bills.
- Popularity: Acker is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Arenberg
Arenberg is made up of the German name Aaron, plus “berg,” meaning “mountain.” The House of Arenberg was an aristocratic family from Arenberg and one of the wealthiest families of the Habsburg Netherlands.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Aaron’s mountain
- Pronunciation: AA-ren-Burg
- Variations: Aremberg, Ahremberg
- Popularity: Arenberg is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Babel
Babel may be most recognized from the ancient Tower of Babel when using the Assyrian “bāb,” meaning “gate,” and “ilu,” meaning “God.” It means “Babylon” in Polish and German, where it became a lesser-known Ashkenazi surname.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Babylon
- Pronunciation: BAA-behl
- Variations: Bable
- Namesakes: Günther Babel, a German member of the Landtag of Bavaria from 2003 to 2008. Ryan Babel, a Dutch footballer for the Netherlands national team.
- Popularity: Babel is rare worldwide, mostly used in Germany, and ranked 157th in Suriname in 2014.
Barber
Barber derives from the German Barbier, meaning “barber,” the occupation. It dates back to the Latin “barbarius,” from “barba,” meaning “beard.” Barbers once were more like surgeons, but today they stick to cutting hair and trimming beards.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Barber
- Pronunciation: BAAR-ber
- Variations: Barbor, Barbour
- Namesakes: Charles E. Barber, the sixth chief engraver of the U.S. Mint from 1879 to 1917. Glynis Barber, a South African actress appearing in the series EastEnders.
- Popularity: Barber is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in England, and ranked 222nd in England in 2014.
Baron
Baron was first a title for a baron, usually a noble knight with allegiance to a king. It also appears as “barun” in Middle English and offers an instant sense of aristocracy.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Son of strength
- Pronunciation: BAA-rohn
- Variations: Barron, Barone
- Namesakes: Fred Baron, an American film producer and the current studio executive at 20th Century Fox. Martin Baron, the American editor of The Washington Post from 2012 to 2021.
- Popularity: Baron is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in France, where it ranked 109th in 2014.
Baruch
Baruch means “descendant of Baruch” in Germany, yet it also means “blessed” and “fortunate” for Jewish people. Baruch was also the name of a disciple of Jeremiah in the Bible.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Blessed
- Pronunciation: Baa-ROOK
- Namesakes: Bertha Hirsch Baruch, a German-American writer and county president of the Los Angeles Suffrage Association, in 1905. Bernard Baruch, the American chairman of the War Industries Board during World War I.
- Popularity: Baruch is rare worldwide and mostly used in Mexico.
Belman
Belman is an example of a Jewish-American name from the German Bellmann. It’s composed of the Hebrew “beyle,” meaning “beautiful,” and the Yiddish “man,” meaning “husband.”
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Beautiful husband
- Variations: Bellman
- Popularity: Belman is rare worldwide and mainly used in Mexico, ranking 1,858th in 2014.
Benowitz
Benowitz uses the Hebrew given name Beniamin for Benjamin. Many stereotypical Jewish names come from the root “ben,” while “-owitz” is a German version of the patronymic Polish suffix “-owicz.”
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Son of Ber
- Pronunciation: Beh-neh-WITZ
- Variations: Bennewitz
- Popularity: Benowitz is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Bensoussan
Bensoussan’s origins are unique among Hebrew last names. Its origin is Maghrebi, based in northern Africa and Western Arabic traditions. Bensoussan is related to the Hebrew “shôshannah,” meaning “lily.”
- Origin: Jewish, French
- Meaning: Lily
- Pronunciation: Ben-SUW-sahn
- Variations: Ben Soussan, Bensussan
- Namesakes: Michel Bensoussan, a French footballer and gold medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Babette Bensoussan, the Australian founder of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.
- Popularity: Bensoussan is rare worldwide and mostly used in France.
Berenson
Berenson derives from the Yiddish first name “Ber,” meaning “bear,” plus the German “sohn,” meaning “son.” Some consider Berenson an Americanized variant of the German Berendsen, similar to names that changed in the U.S.
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Bear son
- Pronunciation: BEH-ren-Sohn
- Variations: Bernson
- Namesakes: Alex Berenson, an American reporter for The New York Times. Berry Berenson, an American actress and widow of actor Anthony Perkins.
- Popularity: Berenson is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Berg
Like the Swedish version of Berg, it comes from the German “berg,” meaning “mountain” and “hill.” Berg is possibly a shortened form of longer German surnames like Schönberg and Goldberg.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Mountain
- Pronunciation: BURGH
- Variations: Bergman, Berger
- Namesakes: Dave Berg, an American cartoonist known for Mad’s The Lighter Side of…. Jeremy M. Berg, the American director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Personalized Medicine.
- Popularity: Berg is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 14th in Norway in 2014.
Bernstein
Though Bernstein means “amber,” it literally translates to “burn stone,” made up of the German “bernen,” meaning “to burn,” and “stēn,” meaning “stone.” Bernstein likely inspired the closely-related children’s book, The Berenstain Bears.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Amber
- Pronunciation: BURN-steen
- Variations: Berenstein
- Namesakes: Jake Bernstein, an American investigative journalist who wrote Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers (2017). Leonard Bernstein, an American conductor, and recipient of the 1980 Kennedy Center Honor.
- Popularity: Bernstein is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 206th in Israel in 2014.
Bichler
In German, Bichler is a geographical name for someone living on a hill, based on “bichel,” meaning “hill.” For Ashkenazi Jews, it’s an occupational surname for a bookseller based on the Yiddish “bukh,” meaning “book.”
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Bookseller
- Pronunciation: BIK-lehr
- Variations: Bechler
- Namesakes: Timo Bichler, a German racing cyclist and bronze medalist at the 2018 UEC European Track Championships. Nicholas J. Bichler, an American member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1935 to 1942.
- Popularity: Bichler is rare worldwide, mainly used in Germany, and ranked 203rd in Austria in 2014.
Blum
Blum is the literal Yiddish word for “flower” and “bloom.” It’s the equivalent of the Dutch “bloem” and the Swedish “blom.” Blum is also often Anglicized to Bloom.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Flower
- Variations: Bluem, Blumm
- Namesakes: Jason Blum, an American horror film producer and founder of Blumhouse Productions. Léon Blum, the three-time Prime Minister of France.
- Popularity: Blum is rare worldwide, primarily used in Germany, and ranked 151st in Switzerland in 2014.
Broder
Broder is a Germanic nickname for a “brother,” usually one who is younger. It’s associated with the German and Yiddish “bruder,” meaning “brother.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Brother
- Pronunciation: BROW-dehr
- Variations: Broeder
- Namesakes: Andrew Broder, a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1896 to 1911. David S. Broder, an American journalist for The Washington Post.
- Popularity: Broder is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Burns
Burns is more commonly an English and Irish surname based on “bourne,” meaning “at the burn (brook).” As a Jewish surname, Burns likely evolved from Bernstein, meaning “amber.”
- Origin: Jewish, Irish
- Meaning: Amber
- Pronunciation: BEHRNS
- Variations: Burn
- Namesakes: George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum), an American comedian known for the 1975 film The Sunshine Boys. DeWayne Burns, an American member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2015.
- Popularity: Burns ranked 1,666th worldwide, is mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 66th in Northern Ireland in 2014.
Cantor
Cantor represents the Anglicized spelling of the German and Jewish Kantor. It originated as the Latin “cantōrem,” a title given to a “male singer.” In Judaism, a cantor is a clergy member who sings during worship.
- Origin: Jewish, Latin
- Meaning: Singer
- Pronunciation: KANT-or
- Variations: Canter
- Namesakes: Leo Cantor, a Jewish-American football player for the New York Giants. Liz Cantor, an Australian TV presenter who won the reality game show The Mole in 2005.
- Popularity: Cantor is rare worldwide, primarily used in Colombia, and ranked 507th in Honduras in 2014.
Chazen
Chazen is simply an alternative for the occupational surname Cantor, meaning “singer.” It combines the Yiddish “khazn” and Hebrew “ḥazan,” resulting in one unique surname.
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Cantor
- Pronunciation: CHAY-sen
- Namesakes: Deborah Chazen, an English actress appearing in The Smoking Room series. Adam Chazen, an American special effects producer known for the Game of Thrones series.
- Popularity: Chazen is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Cohen
Cohen comes from the Hebrew “kohen,” meaning “priest.” It’s associated with the ancient “kohenic” lineage of rabbis stemming from Moses. Known as Kohanim, the rabbis have made Cohen the number one surname in Israel.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Priest
- Pronunciation: KONE
- Variations: Cohn, Coehn, Coen
- Namesakes: Ed Cohen, an American sportscaster who did play-by-play for the New York Knicks. Gezi Cohen, an Israeli weightlifter who competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Cohen ranked 1,386th worldwide and is mainly used in Israel, ranking number one in 2014.
Davidov
Davidov is a Russian-Jewish surname based on David, plus the Slavic suffix “-ov,” meaning “son of.” Some believe Davidov is an American invention representing a shorter version of the Russian Davidovich.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Son of David
- Pronunciation: DAA-vih-Dov
- Variations: Davydov
- Namesakes: Lado Davidov, a Soviet soldier during World War II and a hero of the Soviet Union. Ivan Davidov, a Bulgarian footballer for PFC Slavia Sofia.
- Popularity: Davidov is rare worldwide and primarily used in Israel, where it ranked 116th in 2014.
Diamond
Diamond is an Anglo variation on the German “diamant” and Yiddish “diment,” meaning “diamond.” It may be related to the Greek “adamantos,” meaning “unconquerable,” symbolizing a diamond’s strength.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Son of Dyamond
- Pronunciation: DAEY-mond
- Variations: Dymond
- Namesakes: Neil Diamond, an American singer-songwriter who has sold over 130 million records worldwide. Reed Diamond, an American actor known for the series Homicide: Life on the Street.
- Popularity: Diamond is rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S., ranking 1,334th in 2014.
Drexel
In Germany, Drexel is an occupational surname for “one who turned a lathe,” a tool for crafting objects. The occupation of “a turner” could also mean anything from turning the soil to spinning cloth.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Turner
- Pronunciation: DRECK-sehl
- Variations: Drechsel
- Namesakes: Íngrid Drexel, a Mexican road bicycle racer who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. John Drexel, an American poet for the online Contemporary Poetry Review.
- Popularity: Drexel is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,829th in Austria in 2014.
Dreyfuss
Considered a mostly French-Jewish surname, Dreyfuss originally referred to someone from Trevis, a German location. It’s also a nickname for someone using a crutch and is associated with the German “drivuoss,” meaning a “tripod.”
- Origin: Jewish, French
- Meaning: From Trevis
- Pronunciation: DRAEY-fus
- Variations: Dreyfus
- Namesakes: Richard Dreyfuss, an American actor known for Jaws (1975). Robert Dreyfuss, an American editor for The Nation magazine.
- Popularity: Dreyfuss is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Efron
Efron also means “young stag” but is best known for a place name in two different books of the Bible. It’s one of a few Hebrew surnames given to boys.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Singing bird
- Pronunciation: EHF-ron
- Variations: Ephron, Effron
- Namesakes: Paloma Efron, an Argentine journalist and its first professional jazz singer. Marshall Efron, an American actor known for the PBS show The Great American Dream Machine.
- Popularity: Efron is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Ehrlich
Ehrlich refers to someone who is “honest” or “honorable” when taken from the High German “ērlich,” meaning “respected.” It’s similarly based on the Yiddish “erlekh,” meaning “virtuous.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Honorable
- Pronunciation: UHR-lik
- Variations: Erlich
- Namesakes: Jonathan Erlich, an Israeli tennis player who won the men’s doubles title at the 2008 Australian Open. Abel Ehrlich, an Israeli composer who won the 1997 Israel Prize for Music.
- Popularity: Ehrlich is rare worldwide, mainly used in Germany, and ranked 466th in Israel in 2014.
Einstein
Einstein is composed of the German “ein,” meaning “one,” and “stein,” meaning “stone.” It’s also an occupational surname for a “mason” or someone living “in a stone enclosure.” Thanks to Albert Einstein, it’s the only name on the list synonymous with a genius.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: A rock
- Pronunciation: AEYN-stine
- Namesakes: Albert Einstein, a German-American physicist best known for the theory of relativity. Arik Einstein, an Israeli rock named “the voice of Israel.”
- Popularity: Einstein is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Eisen
Eisen means “iron” in German and became a Jewish occupational surname for a “smith” or “ironworker.” It’s associated with the Yiddish “ayzn,” meaning “iron.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Ironworker
- Pronunciation: AEY-sen
- Variations: Eisner
- Namesakes: Richard Eisen, an American host of The Rich Eisen Show. Gary Eisen, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2019.
- Popularity: Eisen is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,349th in Luxembourg in 2014.
Engel
Engel was originally a German short form of longer names like Engelbert and Engelhard. It dates back to the Middle Ages and has remained the German word for “angel.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Angel
- Pronunciation: ENG-ehl
- Namesakes: Roy Engel, an American actor appearing in the series Gunsmoke. Steven Engel, an American baseball player for the Chicago Cubs.
- Popularity: Engel is rare worldwide and mainly used in Germany, where it ranked 87th in 2014.
Falk
Falk means “the son of Fulk” and is based on the German Falke, meaning “falcon.” It became common for Jewish-German residents and occurs often in Sweden, where it sometimes appears as Falck.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Falcon
- Pronunciation: FAWK
- Variations: Falke
- Namesakes: Miksa Falk, a Hungarian editor-in-chief of the German-language newspaper Pester Lloyd. Peter Falk, an American best known for the series Columbo (1968 to 1978).
- Popularity: Falk is rare worldwide, primarily used in Germany, and ranked 90th in Sweden in 2014.
Feldman
Feldman comes from the German “velt,” meaning “expanse of open country,” plus “man.” It may have been used for a man who lived or worked in an open field.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Fieldman
- Pronunciation: FEHLD-mahn
- Variations: Feldmann
- Namesakes: Corey Feldman, an American actor known for Stand by Me (1986). Dave Feldman, an American sportscaster for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area since 2012.
- Popularity: Feldman is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 58th in Israel in 2014.
Fischer
Like the British Fisher, Fischer was a German occupational name meaning “fisherman.” Some believe that it’s linked to the French Poissant, meaning “powerful,” when incorrectly interpreted as “poisson,” meaning “fish.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Fisherman
- Pronunciation: FISH-ehr
- Variations: Fisher, Fissher
- Namesakes: Emil Fischer, a German chemist and 1902 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Ricardo Fischer, a Brazilian basketball player for Flamengo.
- Popularity: Fischer ranked 883rd worldwide and is mainly used in Germany, ranking 4th in 2014.
Friedman
Friedman comes from the Yiddish “frid,” meaning “peace” and “man.” It also means “descendant of Friduman” in German and is a variant of the Hebrew Solomon.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Man of peace
- Pronunciation: FREED-mahn
- Variations: Friedmann, Freidman, Freedman
- Namesakes: Stephen Friedman, the American co-chief operating officer from 1987 to 1990. Don Friedman, an American jazz pianist who performed with Chet Baker.
- Popularity: Friedman is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 9th in Israel in 2014.
Gelb
Though Gelb means “yellow” in German, it’s used as a Yiddish nickname for men with “red hair.” Gelb is also associated with a northern German town called Geldern.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Red-haired
- Pronunciation: GEHLB
- Variations: Ghelb
- Namesakes: Arthur Gelb, the American managing editor of The New York Times from 1986 to 1989. Richard L. Gelb, an American senior executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1960 to 1995.
- Popularity: Gelb is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Gershon
Gershon means “descendant of Gershon” and refers to the founder of the Gershonites, a subset of the biblical Levite clan. The personal name Gershom means “exile” when based on “ger sham,” meaning “stranger there” in Hebrew.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Sojourner
- Pronunciation: Gehr-SHAWN
- Variations: Gersh
- Namesakes: Gina Gershon, an American actress known for The Insider (1999). Amit Gershon, an Israeli basketball player for Hapoel Eilat.
- Popularity: Gershon is rare worldwide, mainly used in Ghana, and ranked 517th in Israel in 2014.
Glass
Glass derives from the Middle German “glas,” an occupational name for anyone in the glass trade. It’s sometimes related to the German Klass, a nickname for Nikolaus.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Glassmaking
- Variations: Glas
- Namesakes: Ira Glass, an American host of the series This American Life. David Glass, the American owner of the Kansas City Royals.
- Popularity: Glass is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 345th in Northern Ireland in 2014.
Goldberg
Goldberg is a place name describing anywhere in Germany with “gold hills.” It’s made up of the German “gold,” meaning “gold,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Gold hill
- Pronunciation: GOHLD-burg
- Variations: Gold, Goldburg
- Namesakes: Andrew Goldberg, an American writer and co-creator of the Netflix animated series Big Mouth. Mike Goldberg, an American sports commentator with BYB Extreme Fighting Series,
- Popularity: Goldberg is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 85th in Israel in 2014.
Goldman
Goldman is associated with the Yiddish personal name Golde. It’s used as a patronymic surname, meaning “the son of Goldman,” and is one of many Hebrew surnames still popular in Israel.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Son of Goldman
- Pronunciation: GOLD-mahn
- Variations: Goldmann, Gouldman
- Namesakes: Marcus Goldman, the Jewish-American founder of Goldman Sachs. Vivien Goldman, a British journalist with Sounds magazine.
- Popularity: Goldman is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 162nd in Israel in 2014.
Green
Green is one of the most literal Jewish surnames, taken from the German “grun.” It’s also an English surname for someone living “at the green” or any patch of grass.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Green (color)
- Variations: Greene
- Namesakes: Bruce Green, an American film editor on the board of directors of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Dror Green, an Israeli psychotherapist who developed the Emotional Training method.
- Popularity: Green ranked 634th worldwide, is primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 17th in England in 2014.
Haddad
Whether based on the Arabic “ḥaddād” or used by Jewish people living in Northern Africa, Haddad means “blacksmith.” It’s also the name of a Libyan tribe in Misurata called Al Haddad, meaning “blacksmith.”
- Origin: Jewish, Arabic
- Meaning: Blacksmith
- Pronunciation: Haa-DAAD
- Variations: Haddado
- Namesakes: Caroline Haddad, a Canadian figure skater and the 1993 Nebelhorn Trophy champion. Kasia Haddad, a Scottish actress appearing in the children’s television show Balamory.
- Popularity: Haddad is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Algeria, where it ranked 7th in 2014.
Herzog
Herzog is based on the Geran “herzoge,” meaning “duke.” It’s made up of “heri,” meaning “army,” and “ziohan,” meaning “to lead.” The Herzog family includes the sixth president of Israel.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Duke
- Pronunciation: HERTZ-og
- Variations: Hertzog
- Namesakes: Werner Herzog, a German film director known for Grizzly Man (2005). Roman Herzog, the president of Germany from 1994 to 1999.
- Popularity: Herzog is rare worldwide, mainly used in Germany, and ranked 1,968th in Israel in 2014.
Hirsch
Hirsch comes from the Yiddish “tsvi,” meaning “gazelle,” but tends to mean “stag” or “deer.” Many Jewish family names, like Hirschfeld and Hershkowitz, stem from Hirsch. It was also given to deer hunters as an occupational surname.
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Deer
- Pronunciation: HERSH
- Variations: Hirsche, Hirsh
- Namesakes: Emile Hirsch, an American actor known for Into the Wild (2007). Tomás Hirsch, a Chilean political candidate in the 2005 Chilean presidential election.
- Popularity: Hirsch is rare worldwide, primarily used in Germany, and ranked 292nd in Israel in 2014.
Horowitz
Horowitz is influenced by the town of Hořovice in Bohemia, a center of learning during medieval times. Nearby Czechs also based it on the given names Hořimir and Hořislav.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: From Hořovice, Bohemia
- Pronunciation: HOHR-oh-witz
- Variations: Horovitz, Horwicz, Horwitz
- Namesakes: Adam Horowitz, an American screenwriter who co-created the series Once Upon a Time. Moses Horwitz (known as Moe Howard), an American comedian and member of the Three Stooges.
- Popularity: Horowitz is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 104th in Israel in 2014.
Israel
In Hebrew, Israel means “contender with God” or “prince of God.” In the Bible, Jacob was called Israel for wrestling with one of God’s angels. The country of Israel was founded in 1948 after its Declaration of Independence, but its existence dates back to antiquity.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: God contends
- Pronunciation: IZ-raey-El
- Variations: Izrael
- Namesakes: Gerli Israel, an Estonian footballer for the Estonia national team. Steven J. Israel, a U.S. Representative from New York from 2001 to 2017.
- Popularity: Israel is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Tanzania, and ranked 106th in Haiti in 2014.
Jacobs
Jacobs was used to denote a “son of Jacob,” using the personal name Jacob (originally Yaakov). It’s somewhat common in France and is an example of how a significant biblical figure became part of the Jewish naming tradition.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Son of Jacob
- Pronunciation: JAY-cohbs
- Variations: Jacob, Jacoby
- Namesakes: Gary Jacobs, an American comedy writer for The Dick Cavett Show. Tramain Jacobs, American football player for the Detroit Lions.
- Popularity: Jacobs ranked 1,286th worldwide, is primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 4th in Belgium in 2014.
Javorský
In former Czechoslovakia, Javorský was used for someone living near a “javor,” meaning “maple tree.” For Belarussians, it relates to the town of Yavor in Belarus.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: From Yavor
- Pronunciation: Jaah-VOHR-skee
- Variations: Javorski
- Namesakes: Jiří Javorský, a Czech tennis player who won the mixed doubles at the 1997 French Open. Vladimír Javorský, a Czech actor appearing in the film Flower Buds (2011).
- Popularity: Javorský is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Kaplan
Kaplan is one of multiple Hebrew last names related to Cohen, meaning “chaplain” or “priest.” In Germany, Kaplan means “curate,” but it ultimately indicates a descendent of the ancient Hebrew Kohanim, a sect of priests.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Chaplain
- Pronunciation: KAP-lehn
- Variations: Kaplin
- Namesakes: Gabe Kaplan, an American actor known for the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. Ron Kaplan, an Israeli gymnast and gold medalist at the 1989 Maccabiah Games.
- Popularity: Kaplan is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Turkey, and ranked 103rd in Israel in 2014.
Katz
Like Kaplan, Katz is associated with “kohen” in phrases like “cohen tsedek,” meaning “priest of righteousness” or “authentic priest.” Since the times of the Kohanim, names like Katz refer to a “priest” who knew justice when he saw it.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Priest of justice
- Variations: Katzman
- Namesakes: Joseph Katz, a Soviet spy who worked with Soviet intelligence from the 1930s to the late 1940s. Ian Katz, a British editor of The Guardian.
- Popularity: Katz is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 10th in Israel in 2014.
Klein
Klein comes from the Yiddish “kleyn,” meaning “small,” yet has the same meaning in Germany and the Netherlands. It was used as a nickname for a younger male family member and is rooted in longer names like Kleinhans.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Small
- Pronunciation: KLEIYN
- Variations: Kline
- Namesakes: Marci Klein, an American TV producer known for Saturday Night Live. Naomi Klein, a Canadian author of No Logo (1999).
- Popularity: Klein ranked 1,157th worldwide, is mostly used in Germany, and ranked 34th in Israel in 2014.
Koppelman
Koppelman stems from the Yiddish root Koppel and possibly from Kob, a nickname for Jakob. It’s also a Dutch occupational name meaning “yoke band tie.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Copple man
- Pronunciation: KAH-puhl-man
- Variations: Koppelmann, Kopelman
- Namesakes: Brian Koppelman, an American co-writer of Ocean’s Thirteen. Kim Koppelman, an American North Dakota House of Representatives member from 2020 to 2022.
- Popularity: Koppelman is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Landau
People named Landau came from more than one location in Germany called Landau. It’s composed of the Old German “lant,” meaning “territory,” and “auwa,” meaning “damp valley.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: From Landau
- Pronunciation: LAN-dauw
- Variations: Landauer
- Namesakes: Martin Landau, an American actor known for Ed Wood (1994). Uzi Landau, an Israeli member of the Knesset from 2009 to 2015.
- Popularity: Landau is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 1,102nd in Panama in 2014.
Levi
In the Bible, Levi means “joining” and was the name of a son of Jacob. The fame of the ancient Levites tribe has helped make Levi the second most popular name in Israel. It’s also a beloved boy’s name, ranked 21st for boys in America in 2023.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Joining
- Pronunciation: LEE-VY
- Variations: Levy
- Namesakes: Primo Levi, an Italian writer known for If This Is a Man (1947). Nimrod Levi, an Israeli-Swedish basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon.
- Popularity: Levi is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 2nd in Israel in 2019.
Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg is composed of the German “licht,” meaning “light,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.” Lichtenberg is the name of a town located everywhere, from Germany and France to the Netherlands.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Light mountain
- Pronunciation: LIHKT-ehn-Burg
- Variations: Lichtman
- Namesakes: Leopold Lichtenberg, an American violinist and a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Byron Lichtenberg, an American fighter pilot who flew aboard two NASA Space Shuttle missions.
- Popularity: Lichtenberg is rare worldwide and mostly used in Germany.
Lichtman
Lichtman was an occupational surname for a chandler taken from the Yiddish “likht,” meaning “candlelight.” A chandler was someone in a medieval household in charge of candles.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Candlelight man
- Pronunciation: LIHKT-mahn
- Variations: Liechtman
- Namesakes: Jeffrey Lichtman, an American criminal defense lawyer who represented the mobster John Gotti Jr. Rachel Lichtman, an American writer who created the independent channel Network 77 in 2017.
- Popularity: Lichtman is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Lieberman
Lieberman derives from Lieb, a German and Jewish nickname meaning “dear” and “beloved.” It also means “the beloved servant of Lieber” in German.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Dear
- Pronunciation: LEE-behr-Mahn
- Variations: Liebermann, Liberman
- Namesakes: Joe Lieberman, an American politician and Vice Presidential nominee in the 2000 U.S. presidential election. Jeff Lieberman, an American film director known for Just Before Dawn (1981).
- Popularity: Lieberman is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 189th in Israel in 2014.
Loeb
In German and Yiddish, Loeb is a variation of “leib,” meaning “lion.” It was a nickname for a strong person or given to someone living under the “sign of a lion.” Loeb is sometimes associated with the German town of Löban, meaning “deer meadow.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Lion
- Pronunciation: LOWB
- Variations: Löb
- Namesakes: Lisa Loeb, an American singer-songwriter known for the song Stay. Jeph Loeb, an American writer on the series Smallville.
- Popularity: Loeb is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Marelli
Marelli is less common among Jewish last names because of its Sephardic-Italian origins. It’s a diminutive of Mare and dates back to the Greek “mavros,” meaning “black” or “dark.”
- Origin: Jewish, Italian
- Meaning: Dark complexion
- Pronunciation: Maa-REHL-iy
- Variations: Morelli
- Namesakes: Aldo Marelli, an Italian footballer for Gallaratese. Marco Arturo Marelli, a Swiss set designer for the Vienna State Opera.
- Popularity: Marelli is rare worldwide and primarily used in Italy, ranking 661st in 2014.
Margolis
Margolis is a Sephardic-Jewish surname, often occurring in Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. It’s also a female first name meaning “pearls” in Hebrew and “descendant of Margaret” in Russian.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Pearls
- Pronunciation: MAAR-gow-Lihs
- Variations: Margulis, Margules
- Namesakes: Mark Margolis, an American actor known for the series Breaking Bad. Eric S. Margolis, an American editor for the Toronto Sun.
- Popularity: Margolis is rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Marx
Marx is also a German first name from the Latin Marcus. Its Hebrew equivalent is Mordechai, yet Marx means “the son of Mark.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Son of Mark
- Pronunciation: MARKS
- Variations: Marxen
- Namesakes: Karl Marx, a German political theorist known for The Communist Manifesto. Groucho Marx, an American comedian and member of the Marx Brothers.
- Popularity: Marx is rare worldwide, mainly used in Germany, and ranked 42nd in Luxembourg in 2014.
Meyer
Meyer comes from the Hebrew Meir, meaning “enlightener.” Some relate it to the German “meter,” a name for a “bailiff” or “mayor.” Meyer’s many origins include the Hebrew given name Me’ri, meaning “shining.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Enlightener
- Pronunciation: MAEY-ehr
- Variations: Maier, Majer, Meier
- Namesakes: Russ Meyer, an American film director known for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970). Sven Meyer, a German figure skater and the 1998 German national champion.
- Popularity: Meyer ranked 719th worldwide and is primarily used in Germany, where it ranked 6th in 2014.
Mizrahi
Mizrahi derives from the Hebrew “mizrakh,” meaning “east,” and was a Sephardic surname for Jewish people who emigrated to the Iberian peninsula from the east.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Eastener
- Pronunciation: Mihz-RAH-hee
- Variations: Mizrakhi, Mizrakh
- Namesakes: Isaac Mizrahi, an American fashion designer and judge on Project Runway All Stars. Moshe Mizrahi, an Israeli member of the Knesset from 2013 to 2015.
- Popularity: Mizrahi is rare worldwide and primarily used in Israel, ranking 3rd in 2014.
Montefiore
Montefiore is made up of the Italian “monte,” meaning “mountain,” and “fiore,” meaning “flower.” The Sephardic Montefiore family were known as famous bankers in Europe who founded the Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
- Origin: Jewish, Italian
- Meaning: Flower hill
- Pronunciation: MOHN-Teh-fiy-OWR-eh
- Variations: Montefiori, Montifiore
- Namesakes: Jacob Montefiore, an Australian New South Wales Legislative Council member from 1856 to 1860. Moses Montefiore, the British founder of the Mishkenot Sha’ananim settlement outside the Old City of Jerusalem, in 1960.
- Popularity: Montefiore is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Italy.
Nazarian
Nazarian is Armenian but is used by Arabs, Iranians, and Jews. It derives from the Arabic “nazar,” meaning “vision,” and is a short form for names like Nazarethian.
- Origin: Jewish, Armenian
- Meaning: Son of Nazar
- Pronunciation: Naa-ZAA-riy-Ahn
- Variations: Nazaryan
- Namesakes: Angella Nazarian, an Iranian-American writer known for Visionary Women. Sharon Nazarian, an Iranian-American senior vice president of International Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League.
- Popularity: Nazarian is rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Pasternak
Pasternak is one of the most literal Jewish surnames since it actually means “parsnip.” It often occurs in Slavic, Ukrainian, and Russian cultures, where it was given to a person selling parsnips.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Parsnip
- Pronunciation: PAAS-ter-Nak
- Variations: Pasternack
- Namesakes: Boris Pasternak, a Russian writer known for the novel Doctor Zhivago (1957). James Pasternak, a Canadian member of the Toronto City Council since 2010.
- Popularity: Pasternak is rare worldwide, mainly used in Poland, and ranked 1,368th in Israel in 2014.
Pereira
Pereira is one of Spain and Portugal’s oldest Sephardic-Jewish family names. It’s the name of many villages and is based on “pera,” meaning “fruit of the pear tree.”
- Origin: Jewish, Spanish
- Meaning: Pear tree
- Pronunciation: Peh-REHR-ah
- Variations: Pereyra, Perera
- Namesakes: Tomás Romero Pereira, the President of Paraguay from May 1954 to August 1954. Joseph Pereira (known as Joe Perry), an American musician and founding member of Aerosmith.
- Popularity: Pereira ranked 90th worldwide and is primarily used in Brazil, where it ranked 3rd in 2014.
Portnoy
In Slavic cultures with Jewish populations, Portnoy was a surname for a “tailor.” It derives from the Russian “portnoj,” given to “one who makes outer garments,” i.e., a tailor.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Tailor
- Pronunciation: PORT-nouy
- Namesakes: David Portnoy, an American blogger and founder of Barstool Sports. Mike Portnoy, an American musician, and drummer for the band Dream Theater.
- Popularity: Portnoy is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 755th in Israel in 2014.
Rabinowitz
Meaning “son of the rabbi,” Rabinowitz is an example of a Hebrew last name with more than one suffix. The traditional German suffix is “witz,” while the Polish use Rabinowicz. It’s also related to the Russian Rabinovich.
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: Son of the rabbi
- Pronunciation: Rah-BIHN-ah-Witz
- Variations: Rabinowicz
- Namesakes: Jay Rabinowitz, an American film editor known for working with director Jim Jarmusch. Nik Rabinowitz, a South African comedian and TV presenter on SABC.
- Popularity: Rabinowitz is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Rappaport
Rappaport consists of the German “rappe,” meaning “raven.” It also uses the location of Portobuffolé, based on two different possible Italian towns.
- Origin: Jewish, Italian
- Meaning: Raven of Porto
- Pronunciation: Rapp-ah-POHRT
- Variations: Rappoport, Rapaport
- Namesakes: Ben Rappaport, an American actor known for the sitcom Outsourced. Summer Rappaport, an American triathlete who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Rappaport is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 767th in Israel in 2014.
Resnik
Resnik is a Yiddish word for a “butcher.” It relates to “shochet,” meaning “kosher or ritual slaughterer,” and is a favorite in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Butcher
- Pronunciation: REZ-nik
- Variations: Resnick
- Namesakes: Judith Resnik, an American NASA astronaut and the first Jewish woman to go to space. Yuri Reznik, a Ukrainian footballer for FC Stroitel Poltava.
- Popularity: Resnik is very rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 180th in Slovenia in 2014.
Rogen
Rogen is a lesser-known name mostly based in Belarus for those from the towns of Rogi or Rogin. The similarly spelled Irish surname Rogan also means “red-haired,” taken from the Gaelic “ruadh.”
- Origin: Jewish, Slavic
- Meaning: From Rogi
- Pronunciation: ROW-gen
- Variations: Rogan
- Namesakes: Seth Rogen, a Canadian actor who directed The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005). Lauren Miller Rogen, an American actress appearing in Superbad (2007).
- Popularity: Rogen is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Rosenberg
Rosenberg’s beautiful meaning of “rose mountain” comes from various locations across Germany. It’s composed of the German “ros,” meaning “rose,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.”
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Rose mountain
- Pronunciation: ROW-sehn-Burg
- Variations: Rozenberg
- Namesakes: Stuart Rosenberg, an American film director known for Cool Hand Luke (1967). Scott Rosenberg, the American co-founder of Salon.com.
- Popularity: Rosenberg is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 49th in Israel in 2014.
Rothschild
Rothschild means “red coat” in Yiddish and is the coat of arms for the Rothschild family. In German, “zum rothen schild” means “to the red shield,” for the red homes where the family resided.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Red shield
- Pronunciation: ROTHs-chaeld, RO-chilt
- Variations: Rothschilds
- Namesakes: Samuel Rothschild, a Canadian ice hockey player and the first Jewish player in the NHL. Jonathan Rothschild, the 41st mayor of Tucson, Arizona, from 2011 to 2019.
- Popularity: Rothschild is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,010th in Israel in 2014.
Rubin
Rubin first appeared as Reuven in the Bible, which means “behold my son.” It’s also associated with the German “rubin,” meaning “ruby,” and is a vintage-style boy’s name.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Ruby
- Pronunciation: RUW-bihn
- Variations: Reuben
- Namesakes: Danny Rubin, an American-Israeli basketball player for Bnei Herzliya. Jennifer Rubin, an American political commentator with a column at The Washington Post.
- Popularity: Rubin is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 700th in Switzerland in 2014.
Sachs
Sachs is a patronymic surname meaning “the son of Sagge” in Germany, but it also means “man from Saxony.” It’s a part of the Hebrew phrase, “zera kodesh shemo zaks,” meaning “his name is a holy seed.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: From Saxony
- Pronunciation: SAKS
- Variations: Saks
- Namesakes: Milan Sachs, a Czech-Croatian conductor associated with the Zagreb Opera. Hugh Sachs, an English actor appearing in the series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
- Popularity: Sachs is rare worldwide and primarily used in Germany, ranking 750th in 2014.
Salah
Salah is a boy’s name and surname with Hebrew and Arabic origins. In the Bible, it means “mission” or “sending,” while it refers to “righteousness,” “goodness,” and “peace” in Arabic.
- Origin: Jewish, Arabic
- Meaning: Mission
- Pronunciation: Saa-LAAH
- Variations: Saleh
- Namesakes: Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian footballer for Liverpool. Trish Salah, an Arab-Canadian poet known for Wanting in Arabic (2002).
- Popularity: Salah ranked 542nd worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 7th in 2014.
Schmidt
Schmidt is popular among Jewish and non-Jewish Germans based on “schmied,” meaning “blacksmith.” Also appearing as Schmid, it’s the German equivalent of Smith.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Blacksmith
- Pronunciation: SHMIDT
- Variations: Schmid
- Namesakes: Torge Schmidt, a German member of the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein from 2012 to 2017. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the 26th Prime Minister of Denmark from 2011 to 2015.
- Popularity: Schmidt ranked 486th worldwide and is mainly used in Germany, ranking 2nd in 2014.
Schneider
Schneider is a German-Jewish occupational surname for a “tailor.” It derives from the Middle German “snīder” and Yiddish “shnayder,” both meaning “cutter.” Schneider also ranked 3rd in Germany in 2014.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Tailor
- Pronunciation: SHNAEY-der
- Variations: Schnieder, Sneider, Schnyder
- Namesakes: Andrew Schneider, an American journalist and winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize. Kjell Schneider, a German volleyball player and bronze medalist at the 2005 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
- Popularity: Schneider ranked 716th worldwide, is primarily used in Germany, and ranked 252nd in Israel in 2014.
Schultz
In Germany, Schultz originated as “dorf-schulz(e),” meaning “village headman.” This position was a medieval sheriff equivalent to a town mayor today.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Sheriff
- Pronunciation: SHUHLTZ
- Variations: Schultze, Schulz
- Namesakes: Charles Schulz, an American cartoonist and creator of the comic strip Peanuts. Dwight Schultz, an American actor known for the series The A-Team.
- Popularity: Schultz is uncommon worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 85th in Denmark in 2014.
Segal
Segal dates back to the Hebrew phrase, “segan leviyyah,” meaning “assistant to the Levites.” The Levites were an ancient tribe of priests that influenced Hebrew surnames from Levy to Cohen.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Assistant to the priest
- Pronunciation: SEE-gahl
- Variations: Siegel, Segel
- Namesakes: George Segal, an American actor known for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). Peter Segal, an American film director known for Tommy Boy (1995).
- Popularity: Segal is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is based on the German Seinfeld, meaning “sea field” or “his field.” It was used to denote areas of land that had their forests cleared. Seinfeld is rare but well known, thanks to comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Sea-field
- Pronunciation: SAEYN-fehld
- Variations: Sheinfeld
- Namesakes: Jerry Seinfeld, an American stand-up comedian and co-creator of the sitcom Seinfeld (1989 to 1998). John H. Seinfeld, an American chemical engineer known for his research on air pollution.
- Popularity: Seinfeld is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Shapiro
Shapiro may refer to someone from Speyer, Germany, where many Jewish people lived during medieval times. Others believe it comes from the Hebrew “sofer,” meaning “scribe,” or the Russian “safir,” meaning “pure.”
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Scribe
- Pronunciation: Shaa-PEER-oh
- Variations: Schapiro
- Namesakes: Milly Shapiro, an American actress known for the horror film Hereditary. Susan Shapiro, an American writer and co-author of Unhooked (2014).
- Popularity: Shapiro is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 22nd in Israel in 2014.
Silverstein
Silverstein is made up of the German “silber,” meaning “silver,” and “stein,” meaning “stone.” It was primarily an occupational surname for Ashkenazi Jews working with silver in Germany.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Silver stone
- Pronunciation: SIHL-ver-Steen
- Variations: Silver
- Namesakes: Jamie Silverstein, an American ice dancer and the 2000 U.S. silver medalist. Matt Silverstein, an American TV writer and co-creator of the series Drawn Together.
- Popularity: Silverstein is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Solomon
Solomon comes from the Hebrew greeting “shalom,” meaning “peace.” It’s also been used as a patronymic surname meaning “the son of Solomon.” In the Bible, the wise King Solomon built Jerusalem’s Holy Temple in 957 BC.
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: SAAL-ah-Mahn
- Variations: Salomon
- Namesakes: Reanna Solomon, the first female Nauruan winner of a Commonwealth Games gold medal for weightlifting. Shirley Solomon, a Canadian TV talk show host of The Shirley Show from 1989 to 1995.
- Popularity: Solomon ranked 442nd worldwide and is primarily used in Ethiopia, where it ranked 7th in 2014.
Spinoza
Spinoza is not typical among Jewish last names but mostly occurred in the Sephardic-Jewish communities of Spain and Portugal. Before 1492, 750,000 Jews lived in Spain before fleeing to other European countries (1).
- Origin: Jewish, Spanish
- Meaning: From Espinosa
- Pronunciation: Speh-NOUW-sah
- Variations: Espinosa
- Namesakes: Baruch Spinoza, a Portuguese-Jewish philosopher and leading figure of the Dutch Golden Age.
- Popularity: Spinoza is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Chad.
Stern
In Yiddish, Stern means “star,” but it was also a geographical name for a house with a “sign of a star.” In German, Stern was more of a nickname for an “austere” person.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Star
- Pronunciation: STUHRN
- Variations: Stearne, Sterne
- Namesakes: Itzhak Stern, a Polish-Jewish accountant who worked for Oskar Schindler to rescue Jewish people during the Holocaust. Marcus Stern, an American journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006.
- Popularity: Stern is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 62nd in Israel in 2014.
Stiller
Stiller is a German nickname for someone known for being “calm.” It’s also associated with the German surname Still, given to someone from Still in Alsace.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Calm person
- Pronunciation: STIH-lehr
- Variations: Stille
- Namesakes: Jerry Stiller, an American comedian and member of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara. Cheynee Stiller, an Australian rules footballer for the Brisbane Lions.
- Popularity: Stiller is rare worldwide and primarily used in Germany, ranking 740th in 2014.
Tapuchi
Tapuchi is very rare, thought to be an adaptation of the Russian Yablochnik, meaning “apple.” It was probably first given to someone who worked in or owned an apple orchard.
- Origin: Jewish, Russian
- Meaning: Apple
- Pronunciation: TAA-puw-Chee
- Popularity: Tapuchi is extremely rare worldwide, with 25 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the U.S.
Turkel
While Turkel means “turtle dove” in Yiddish, it’s also a Ukrainian nickname for a “chatty” person. It derives from the Ukrainian “turkaty,” meaning “to tell over and over again.”
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Turtle dove
- Pronunciation: TURK-uhl
- Namesakes: Jacob Turkel, a judge for the Supreme Court of Israel Justice from 1995 to 2005. Joe Turkel, an American actor known for The Shining.
- Popularity: Turkel is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Vogel
Vogel is the Old German word for a “bird,” which became common for Germans and Jews. It was a nickname for a “happy person” or someone who “sings like a bird.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Bird
- Pronunciation: VOW-gehl
- Variations: Voegel, Vogl
- Namesakes: Michelle Vogel, an Australian writer of biographies including one of Marilyn Monroe. Hermann Carl Vogel, a German astrophysicist and director of the Astrophysical Observatory from 1882 to 1907.
- Popularity: Vogel is rare worldwide and primarily used in Germany, where it ranked 52nd in 2014.
Weinstein
Weinstein is composed of the German “wein,” meaning “wine,” and “stein,” meaning “stone.” It refers to the crystals formed during the wine-making process. It was also a surname for a person living “near a field” in Germany.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Wine stone
- Pronunciation: WAEYN-stiyn
- Variations: Weiner
- Namesakes: Irv Weinstein, an American news anchor for WKBW-TV’s Eyewitness News in Buffalo from 1964 to 1998. Yehuda Weinstein, the Attorney General of Israel from 2010 to 2016.
- Popularity: Weinstein is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 203rd in Israel in 2014.
Weiss
Weiss means “white” in both German and Yiddish. It uses the High German root “wîz,” meaning “blonde,” or “(h)wīz,” meaning “bright” and shining.”
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: White
- Pronunciation: WAEYZ
- Variations: Weis, Weisz
- Namesakes: Luigi Weiss, an Italian ski mountaineer, and bronze medalist at the 1979 Biathlon World Championships. Shevah Weiss, the Knesset Speaker in Israel from 1992 to 1996.
- Popularity: Weiss is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 20th in Israel in 2014.
Wolfe
Wolfe comes from the Yiddish “volf,” meaning “wolf,” yet is associated with Benjamin. It’s quite different in Hebrew, where “ze’ev” means “wolf.”
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Wolf
- Pronunciation: WULF
- Variations: Wolf, Wolff
- Namesakes: Hugh Wolfe, an American football player for the New York Giants. Miriam Wolfe, an American actress appearing on the radio show Let’s Pretend.
- Popularity: Wolfe is rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S., ranking 332nd in 2014.
Yehudi
Yehudi is best known as a boy’s name, meaning “praised one.” It’s also the Hebrew word for “jew,” originally meaning “from the Kingdom of Judah.”
- Origin: Jewish
- Meaning: Praise
- Pronunciation: Yeh-HUW-dee
- Variations: Jehudi
- Popularity: Yehudi is extremely rare worldwide, with 19 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Tanzania.
Yuter
Yuter is a Russian boy’s name based on the Yiddish “yude” and the Hebrew “jude,” meaning “praised.” It relates to “yevry,” the Russian word used for a Jewish person.
- Origin: Jewish, Russian
- Meaning: Praised
- Pronunciation: YUW-ter
- Popularity: Yuter is extremely rare worldwide, with 197 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in the U.S.
Zalman
Zalman is one of many name variations for Solomon. It’s common in Israel and the U.S., while Zalman is used in the Hasidic communities as a first name.
- Origin: Jewish, Yiddish
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: ZAAL-mahn
- Popularity: Zalman is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Israel.
Zimmerman
Zimmerman relates to the German Zimmermann, meaning “carpenter.” It’s composed of “zimber,” meaning “timber wood” and “man.” A German carpenter is called a “zimmerer” or “tischler,” but Zimmerman remains the occupational name used in the Jewish community.
- Origin: Jewish, German
- Meaning: Carpenter
- Pronunciation: ZIH-mehr-Maan
- Variations: Zimmer, Zimmerer
- Namesakes: George J. Zimmermann, the 50th mayor of Buffalo, New York, from 1934 to 1937. Urs Zimmermann, a Swiss road racing cyclist who won the 1984 Tour de Suisse.
- Popularity: Zimmerman is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 682nd in Israel in 2014.
Jewish Surnames FAQs
What Is a Common Jewish Last Name?
Cohen is the most common of Jewish surnames and has many variations, from Cohn to Kaplan. It ranked 1,386th worldwide in 2014 and was the most common surname in Israel. Levi is another very popular Jewish surname ranging from Levy and Levinsky to Levitt and Lewinson.
How Can You Tell if a Last Name Is Jewish?
Since many Jewish last names were adopted in various countries and points in time, they’re not always easy to recognize. The most popular suffixes to Jewish surnames tend to be “-berg,” as in Goldberg, “-stein,” as in Einstein, and “-witz,” as in Horowitz. Names ending in “-berg” can be confusing since many Swedish last names use this suffix, like Ekberg.
