If you have ever come across a last name and thought it sounded distinctly Jewish, you were probably picking up on something real. Jewish surnames have a sound, a texture, and a history that is unlike almost any other naming tradition in the world.
Some came from Hebrew. Some came from Yiddish. Some were handed down by rabbis and scholars. Others were literally assigned by European governments in the 18th and 19th centuries, which is a history all on its own.
Whether you are researching your family tree, writing a character, or just deeply curious, this list covers the most common Jewish last names with their meanings, organized by where they came from and what they tell us.
Priestly and Religious Jewish Surnames
These are the most ancient Jewish surnames in existence. Long before governments started requiring last names, Jewish families with religious roles already had hereditary identifiers. The kohanim were the priestly class, descendants of Aaron. The Levites assisted in the Temple. These surnames come directly from that tradition and are among the most recognized Jewish last names in the world.
1. Cohen
The single most common Jewish surname on earth. It comes directly from the Hebrew word “kohen,” meaning priest. Every family named Cohen traces their lineage, at least by tradition, back to the priestly class of ancient Israel. The spelling variations are endless, but the meaning never changes.
2. Katz
Looks like a German word for cat, but it is not. Katz is an acronym. It stands for “Kohen Tzedek,” meaning righteous priest. An abbreviation that became a full surname, carried by priestly families who wanted to declare their status in two letters.
3. Levi
From the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe of Israel that served in the Temple. A direct Hebrew surname with over three thousand years of documented history behind it.
4. Levy
The same origin as Levi, just spelled differently. The French and English spelling of the same ancient tribal name. Equally common, equally historic.
5. Levine
A variation on Levi, with the suffix “ine” added in the Ashkenazi tradition. One of the most common Jewish surnames in North America.
6. Levitt
Another Levi variant. The “tt” ending is a common Ashkenazi modification. Still carries the full Levite heritage in its two syllables.
7. Levinson
Son of Levi. The Scandinavian-style “son” suffix was adopted in parts of northern Europe where Jewish communities lived and adapted to local naming customs.
8. Levin
A short, clean Ashkenazi version of Levi. One of the most common Jewish surnames in Eastern Europe and Russia.
9. Kaplan
From the Hebrew “kohen,” meaning priest, filtered through the Slavic word “kaplan,” which referred to a chaplain or religious official. A priestly surname that took a European detour.
10. Kagan
Another variation of Cohen that traveled through Eastern Europe and picked up a Slavic sound along the way. Common among Russian and Ukrainian Jewish families.
11. Kahane
A Hebrew form of Cohen. More directly rooted in the original Hebrew than the Eastern European variants. Common in Israeli families and in Sephardic communities.
12. Kohane
Yet another spelling of the same ancient priestly name. The variety of Cohen spellings reflects centuries of migration, transcription by non-Jewish officials, and regional pronunciation differences.
13. Rappaport
One of the most distinguished surnames in Ashkenazi Jewish history. Comes from the Italian “rapa,” meaning turnip, combined with “porto,” meaning port. A family that originally lived near a port town in Italy. The Rappaport family became famous as a rabbinic dynasty, and the name carries enormous scholarly prestige.
14. Shapiro
From the town of Speyer in Germany, known in Hebrew as “Shpira.” Families who came from this important medieval Jewish community became the Shapiro family. One of the most intellectually prestigious surnames in Jewish history.
15. Kohn
A German spelling of Cohen. German-speaking Jewish communities often wrote the priestly name as Kohn, and it became a distinct surname in its own right.
16. Cohn
Another German-influenced spelling of Cohen. Common among Jewish families from Germany and Austria.
17. Rabinowitz
Son of the rabbi. From the Hebrew “rabbi” combined with the Slavic “owitz” suffix meaning son of. A surname of enormous religious status, given to or adopted by families of rabbinic lineage.
18. Rabin
From “rabbi,” the Hebrew word for teacher or religious leader. A shorter form of the rabbinic surnames. Made globally known by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
19. Raz
From the Hebrew word meaning secret or mystery. A surname connected to mystical and Kabbalistic traditions within Jewish religious life.
20. Sachs
From “Sacks,” which is an acronym for “zera kodesh shmo,” meaning his name is holy seed. A surname of Levite or priestly origin hidden inside what looks like a German family name.
21. Sacks
The same acronym-based priestly surname as Sachs. The British spelling, made internationally famous by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
22. Schiff
From the German word for ship, but in the Jewish context often used as a house name for families whose home displayed a ship symbol. Also connected to the banking Schiff family, one of the most influential Jewish families in American history.
23. Adler
German for eagle. In Jewish tradition the eagle represented strength and divine protection. Many prominent rabbinical and scholarly families took this name.
24. Uri
From the Hebrew name meaning “my light” or “flame of God.” A priestly given name that became a surname in some families.
25. Landau
From the German city of Landau. Carried by one of the most famous rabbinic dynasties in Jewish history, the Landau family of Prague. The name carries extraordinary scholarly weight.
Hebrew and Biblical Jewish Surnames
These surnames come directly from Hebrew words, Hebrew names, or the Hebrew Bible. Some are straightforward translations of biblical concepts. Others are names that were originally given names and became last names over time. All of them connect the bearer directly to the ancient language and texts of Jewish civilization.
26. Abramowitz
Son of Abram or Abraham. The father of the Jewish people gave his name to countless families through this Slavic-style patronymic suffix.
27. Abrams
Son of Abraham, in the English and Western European form. A biblical patronymic that spread across the English-speaking Jewish world.
28. Abraham
The biblical patriarch’s own name used as a surname. A family that simply took the most foundational name in Jewish history as their own.
29. Isaacs
Son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. A second-generation patriarchal surname that traveled through English-speaking communities.
30. Jacob
From the biblical patriarch whose name was changed to Israel. A given name that became a surname, carrying the identity of the Jewish people in its letters.
31. Jacobs
Son of Jacob. The “s” added in the English tradition to create a patronymic surname.
32. Jacobson
Son of Jacob, in the Scandinavian and Northern European tradition. Common among Jewish families in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
33. Moses
From the Hebrew “Moshe,” the greatest prophet in Jewish tradition. Used both as a first name and as a surname, carrying centuries of reverence.
34. Moshe
The direct Hebrew form of Moses. More common in Israeli and Sephardic families than in Ashkenazi communities.
35. Elias
From the Hebrew prophet Elijah. A Greek rendering of the same name, common among Sephardic and Mediterranean Jewish families.
36. Elijah
The prophet’s name used directly as a surname. Rare but deeply meaningful.
37. Ezra
From the biblical scribe Ezra, who led the return of the Jewish people from Babylonian exile. A name that carries the weight of renewal and scholarship.
38. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first High Priest of Israel. A given name that became a widespread Jewish surname.
39. Aaronson
Son of Aaron. A patronymic that announces priestly descent through the name of the first kohen.
40. Solomon
From the Hebrew “Shlomo,” the wise king. A surname of royal and intellectual prestige.
41. Solomons
Son of Solomon. The English patronymic form of the royal name.
42. David
The shepherd king of Israel. One of the most beloved names in Jewish history, used as both a first name and a surname.
43. Davidson
Son of David. A common Ashkenazi and Anglo-Jewish patronymic.
44. Davidoff
Son of David in the Eastern European Slavic tradition. Common among Russian and Romanian Jewish families.
45. Saul
From the first king of Israel. A surname with royal and ancient roots.
46. Daniel
From the biblical prophet Daniel, whose name means “God is my judge.” A deeply prophetic surname.
47. Ezekiel
From the prophet whose name means “God will strengthen.” One of the most powerful prophetic names in the Hebrew Bible.
48. Noah
From the biblical Noah, whose name means rest or comfort. A surname that carries the story of survival and beginning again.
49. Naomi
From the Book of Ruth. Primarily a woman’s given name, but used occasionally as a surname. Means pleasant or delightful.
50. Ora
From the Hebrew word for light. A feminine given name that became a surname in some families, particularly in Israeli naming traditions.
Ashkenazi Jewish Surnames From Germany and Eastern Europe
Ashkenazi Jews lived for centuries in Germany, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Romania. Their surnames reflect that geography. Many were assigned by local governments in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some families chose beautiful nature names. Others were given names based on their street, their trade, or sometimes the whims of a government official. These are some of the most recognizable Jewish surnames in the world.
51. Goldberg
Gold mountain. From the German “Gold” and “Berg.” One of the most stereotypically recognized Jewish surnames, and for good reason. It was widely used because gold was a symbol of value and Berg was one of the most common German topographic suffixes.
52. Goldstein
Gold stone. Another gold surname. “Stein” means stone in German. Many Jewish families chose or were given gold-prefix names during the 18th-century European surname assignments.
53. Goldman
Gold man. A person of gold, or someone who worked with gold. An occupational or symbolic surname.
54. Greenberg
Green mountain. From “Gruen” and “Berg.” A nature name combining color and landscape.
55. Greenwald
Green forest. From “Gruen” and “Wald.” Another nature compound name.
56. Greenbaum
Green tree. From “Gruen” and “Baum.” Trees were common surname elements in Ashkenazi naming traditions.
57. Rosenberg
Rose mountain. From “Rose” and “Berg.” Flowers combined with landscape. One of the most beautiful-sounding of the German Jewish compound surnames.
58. Rosenbaum
Rose tree. A compound of rose and tree. A gentle, floral surname.
59. Rosenthal
Rose valley. From “Rose” and “Thal.” A valley of roses. One of the most poetic German Jewish surnames.
60. Rosenfeld
Rose field. From “Rose” and “Feld.” A field of roses. Another floral landscape name.
61. Blum
Flower in German. A simple, single-word nature surname that was chosen or assigned during European surname registration.
62. Blumberg
Flower mountain. A compound of flower and mountain, continuing the German Jewish tradition of combining natural elements.
63. Blumenthal
Flower valley. From “Blume” and “Thal.” A valley full of flowers. A beautiful and gentle surname.
64. Silverstein
Silver stone. From “Silber” and “Stein.” Precious metal combined with stone, a common formula in German Jewish surnames.
65. Silberberg
Silver mountain. Another precious metal and landscape compound.
66. Silberman
Silver man. An occupational surname for someone who worked with silver, or a symbolic one assigned during registration.
67. Bernstein
Amber stone. From the German word for amber, “Bernstein.” Amber was highly valued in medieval Northern Europe, and this became a prestigious surname.
68. Finkelstein
Spark stone. From “Funkel,” meaning spark, and “Stein.” An energetic, luminous compound surname.
69. Feinberg
Fine mountain or refined hill. From “fein,” meaning fine or refined, and “Berg.”
70. Feinstein
Fine stone or refined stone. The same root as Feinberg, combined with “Stein.”
71. Weiss
White in German. A simple descriptive surname for someone fair-haired or pale-complexioned. One of the most common German Jewish surnames.
72. Weissman
White man. An extension of Weiss, adding the suffix for person or man.
73. Schwarzman
Black man. From “schwarz,” meaning black. A descriptive surname for someone with very dark hair or complexion.
74. Klein
Small in German. A descriptive surname that was widely used in German-speaking Jewish communities.
75. Kleinberg
Small mountain. A compound of Klein and Berg.
Yiddish Jewish Surnames
Yiddish was the everyday language of Ashkenazi Jews for nearly a thousand years. It blended Hebrew, German, Slavic, and Romance languages into something entirely its own. Many Jewish surnames come directly from Yiddish words, nicknames, and expressions that captured something true about the families who carried them.
76. Sher
Yiddish for scissors. An occupational surname for tailors and those who worked with cutting tools. Still widely used today.
77. Schneider
Tailor in German and Yiddish. One of the most common occupational surnames in all of Ashkenazi Jewry. Every community had multiple tailors, and many of them became the Schneider family.
78. Shuster
Cobbler or shoemaker in Yiddish. Another trade surname. Cobblers were essential in every community, and the name spread accordingly.
79. Kessler
Coppersmith in Yiddish and German. Someone who made copper vessels. An occupational surname from the crafts tradition.
80. Fleischer
Butcher in German and Yiddish. Especially significant in Jewish communities where kosher butchering was a skilled and religious occupation.
81. Becker
Baker in German and Yiddish. The community baker was an essential figure, and this surname spread widely.
82. Fischer
Fisher or fisherman. An occupational surname for those who worked with fish. Fish was a central food in Jewish culture, especially for Shabbat.
83. Zimmerman
Carpenter in German and Yiddish. From “Zimmer,” meaning room or timber, and “Mann,” meaning man.
84. Kaufman
Merchant or trader in German and Yiddish. From “kaufen,” meaning to buy. A commercial surname for families in trade.
85. Hoffman
Courtier or estate manager in German and Yiddish. From “Hof,” meaning court or estate. A prestigious occupational surname.
86. Altman
Old man in German and Yiddish. A descriptive surname for a family elder or possibly for a family who lived near an old man’s property.
87. Gutman
Good man in German and Yiddish. A character surname given to families known for their goodness or moral standing.
88. Richman
Rich man. A Yiddish-influenced surname suggesting prosperity. Sometimes ironic, sometimes aspirational.
89. Klugman
Clever man. From “klug,” meaning smart or clever in Yiddish. A surname that celebrated intellectual ability.
90. Nudelman
Noodle maker. From “nudel” in Yiddish. One of the most charming occupational surnames in the tradition.
91. Grossman
Big man. From “gross,” meaning large. A physical description that became a permanent surname.
92. Lustig
Merry or cheerful in German and Yiddish. A character surname for families known for their good humor.
93. Selig
Blessed or happy in Yiddish. A deeply positive surname with religious undertones.
94. Freud
Joy in German and Yiddish. Made internationally famous by Sigmund Freud, this surname simply means happiness.
95. Lieber
Dear or beloved in German and Yiddish. An affectionate surname.
96. Frum
Devout or pious in Yiddish. A religious character surname for deeply observant families.
97. Rosen
Rose in German and Yiddish. A standalone flower surname, the root of many Rosen- compound surnames.
98. Tauber
Dove in German and Yiddish. A nature surname for families symbolically connected to the dove, a bird of peace in Jewish tradition.
99. Wald
Forest in German and Yiddish. A simple topographic surname for families who lived near or in forested areas.
100. Zinger
Singer in Yiddish. An occupational or character surname for families known for their musical ability, particularly in synagogue singing.
Sephardic Jewish Surnames
Sephardic Jews are the descendants of the Jewish communities expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492. They spread across the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, the Netherlands, and the Americas. Their surnames reflect that extraordinary journey, blending Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Greek.
101. Mizrahi
From the Hebrew word “mizrach,” meaning east. Used to identify Jewish families from Eastern countries, particularly from the Middle East and North Africa.
102. Sephardi
Literally meaning from Sepharad, the Hebrew name for Spain. A surname that announced Iberian Jewish origin.
103. Toledano
From Toledo, the great center of Jewish life in medieval Spain. Families expelled from Toledo became the Toledano family.
104. Cordovero
From Cordoba in Spain. The Kabbalist Moses Cordovero bore this name, making it famous in Jewish mystical history.
105. Navarro
From the Kingdom of Navarre in Spain. Sephardic families who came from this region took its name with them into exile.
106. Pardo
Brown or dark in Spanish and Portuguese. A descriptive Sephardic surname used across the Mediterranean.
107. Moreno
Dark-skinned or dark-haired in Spanish. Used by both Sephardic Jewish and Spanish Christian families. A descriptive surname that crossed community lines.
108. Almosnino
From the Arabic “al-mesnino,” possibly meaning the little one or from a specific place. A Sephardic surname found in Ottoman territories.
109. Cresques
Possibly from the Catalan “cresques” meaning you will grow or from a place name. Carried by the famous 14th-century Jewish cartographer Abraham Cresques.
110. Benveniste
Welcome or well-received in Old French and Catalan. A surname given to or chosen by families known for their hospitality. A great medieval rabbinic dynasty bore this name.
111. Nasi
Prince or leader in Hebrew. A surname of enormous status, traditionally given to the heads of the Jewish community. The Nasi family of Constantinople was one of the most powerful Jewish families in the Ottoman Empire.
112. Abravanel
From the Hebrew “Abra” connected to Abraham, plus “vanel” possibly from a place name. The Abravanel family was one of the most distinguished in Sephardic history, producing philosophers, statesmen, and biblical commentators.
113. Caro
Dear or beloved in Spanish and Italian. A Sephardic surname that expressed affection. Rabbi Joseph Caro, who wrote the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish law, bore this name.
114. Sassoon
From the Hebrew “sasson,” meaning joy or happiness. A surname of great prestige, carried by the famous Sassoon merchant family of Baghdad and later India and England.
115. Farhi
From the Arabic “farh,” meaning joy or happiness. A Sephardic surname used across the Levant and North Africa.
116. Azoulay
From the Berber-Arabic “azoulay,” possibly meaning the small stones or from a specific North African location. A prominent Moroccan Jewish surname.
117. Tobi
From the Hebrew “tov,” meaning good. A short, clean Sephardic surname.
118. Hazan
The cantor or prayer leader of a synagogue. From the Hebrew “chazan.” An occupational religious surname of great honor.
119. Dayan
From the Hebrew “dayan,” meaning judge, specifically a religious court judge. A surname of enormous legal and religious authority.
120. Maimon
Connected to Maimonides, the greatest Jewish philosopher of the medieval period. From the Arabic name “Maymun,” meaning fortunate or blessed.
121. Benami
Son of my people in Hebrew. A Sephardic surname expressing communal belonging.
122. Perahia
From the Hebrew “perahia,” meaning flowering or blossoming of God. A beautiful Sephardic surname.
123. Alhadeff
From the Arabic “al-haddaf,” meaning the weaver or the one who throws the shuttle. An occupational Sephardic surname.
124. Levy (Sephardic)
The same Levite tribal name appeared in Sephardic communities as well, often spelled slightly differently but carrying the identical meaning and heritage.
125. Gaon
Title meaning excellency or genius in Hebrew. Given to the heads of the great Talmudic academies of Babylonia. A surname of the highest possible scholarly status.
Eastern European Jewish Surnames
These surnames came from Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, and the Baltic states. Jewish communities in these countries lived largely in Yiddish-speaking shtetls for centuries. When Russian, Polish, and Austro-Hungarian governments mandated surnames in the late 18th century, Jewish families adopted or were assigned names from this rich geographic and linguistic region.
126. Horowitz
From the Bohemian town of Horovice. One of the most distinguished rabbinic surnames in Ashkenazi history. Families who came from this town became the Horowitz family, and many of them became famous scholars and rabbis.
127. Katz
Listed earlier as an acronym, but worth noting here that many Eastern European Jewish families also took this name because of its simplicity and its signal of priestly status.
128. Margolis
From the Hebrew “margalit,” meaning pearl. A surname of beauty and value. Common among Polish and Russian Jewish families.
129. Margulies
A variant spelling of Margolis. The same pearl-based meaning, slightly different form.
130. Perelman
Pearl man in Yiddish. An Ashkenazi compound using the precious gem as a root. Made famous by the mathematician Grigori Perelman.
131. Perlman
A cleaner spelling of the same name. Pearl man. Also associated with the violinist Itzhak Perlman.
132. Brodsky
From the Ukrainian city of Brody. Families from this important Jewish center took the city’s name. The poet Joseph Brodsky bore this surname.
133. Trotsky
From the Ukrainian town of Troitske. Made internationally notorious by Leon Trotsky. Originally a place-based surname.
134. Berkowitz
Son of Ber or Dov, both meaning bear in Yiddish and Hebrew respectively. A common Eastern European Jewish patronymic.
135. Berman
Bear man. From the Yiddish “ber” meaning bear. One of the most common Eastern European Jewish surnames.
136. Bernstein
Listed earlier under German names, but equally common in Eastern Europe. Amber stone, or son of Bern in some interpretations.
137. Palevsky
From a place name in Eastern Europe. A regional surname adopted by Jewish families from a specific town or area.
138. Borochov
From a place name or possibly from “boroch,” a Slavic root. A surname found among Russian and Ukrainian Jewish families.
139. Ginsberg
From the German town of Gunzburg. Jewish families from this Bavarian town became the Ginsberg family. Made culturally famous by poet Allen Ginsberg.
140. Ginsburg
A variant spelling of Ginsberg. Same town, same origin, different transcription.
141. Mandelbaum
Almond tree. From the German “Mandel” for almond and “Baum” for tree. A beautiful nature surname.
142. Mandel
Almond in German and Yiddish. A simple, elegant nut-based surname.
143. Siegel
From the German “Siegel,” meaning seal or signet. Originally an occupational surname for those who made official seals or stamps.
144. Segal
From the Hebrew acronym “segan leviyah,” meaning assistant to the Levites. Another acronym surname hiding religious status inside what looks like a simple family name.
145. Sokolov
From the Russian word “sokol,” meaning falcon. A nature surname adopted by Jewish families in Russia.
146. Turkenich
From Turkey or Turkish. A surname indicating that a family had come from or spent time in the Ottoman Empire before settling in Eastern Europe.
147. Warshawsky
From Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Families from Warsaw carried its name as they moved to other communities.
148. Warszawski
The Polish spelling of the Warsaw surname. The same origin, different transcription.
149. Zilber
Silver in Yiddish. The Yiddish form of the German “Silber.” A precious metal surname common in Eastern European Jewish communities.
150. Zunz
Of uncertain origin. Possibly from a place name in Germany. Made famous by Leopold Zunz, one of the founders of modern Jewish scholarship.
Jewish Surnames From Israel and the Middle East
When the State of Israel was established in 1948, many Jewish immigrants Hebraized their surnames. They replaced Yiddish or Eastern European names with modern Hebrew words. These new surnames became a defining feature of Israeli Jewish identity. This section also includes surnames from ancient Mizrahi communities in Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and Syria.
151. Ben-David
Son of David in Hebrew. One of the most common Israeli surnames created during Hebraization.
152. Ben-Ami
Son of my people in Hebrew. A surname that expresses collective Jewish identity.
153. Ben-Zion
Son of Zion. A deeply Zionist surname that places the bearer in direct relation to the Jewish homeland.
154. Almog
Coral in Hebrew. A beautiful nature surname chosen by Israeli families who wanted something modern and rooted in the Hebrew language.
155. Alon
Oak tree in Hebrew. A strong, rooted nature surname that became popular among Israeli families.
156. Aloni
Of the oak in Hebrew. A variation on Alon with a possessive suffix.
157. Amit
Friend or colleague in Hebrew. A warm relational surname.
158. Ariel
Lion of God in Hebrew. One of the most powerful and poetic Hebrew surnames.
159. Aran
From the Hebrew for light or song. A short, modern Israeli surname.
160. Avraham
The Hebrew form of Abraham. Many Israeli families took the patriarch’s name directly as their surname.
161. Bar-Lev
Son of the heart in Hebrew. A surname that speaks to emotional depth and courage.
162. Carmel
From Mount Carmel, the sacred mountain on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. A place-based Israeli surname with deep biblical resonance.
163. Dagan
Grain in Hebrew. An agricultural surname connected to the ancient Hebrew word for wheat or grain.
164. Eitan
Strong or firm in Hebrew. A character surname expressing strength.
165. Even
Stone in Hebrew. A simple, solid nature surname.
166. Gal
Wave in Hebrew. A fluid, beautiful nature surname.
167. Gilad
From the region of Gilead in biblical Israel. A place-based Hebrew surname.
168. Haim
Life in Hebrew. From “chaim,” one of the most beloved Hebrew words. A surname that celebrates the most fundamental thing.
169. Katz (Israeli)
Still widely used in Israel in its original Ashkenazi form, the acronym for righteous priest.
170. Kedem
Ancient or original in Hebrew. A surname that looks back to the deep past.
171. Kimhi
Flour in Hebrew. An old Sephardic family name also adopted by Israeli families. Connected to the great medieval grammarian David Kimhi.
172. Magen
Shield in Hebrew. A protective surname connected to the Star of David, called the Magen David.
173. Naveh
Oasis or beautiful dwelling in Hebrew. A peaceful, lush nature surname.
174. Nevo
Prophet or oasis in Hebrew. A surname with both prophetic and topographic meaning.
175. Nitzan
Blossom or flower bud in Hebrew. A spring surname full of new growth energy.
More Jewish Surnames Worth Knowing
This final section covers the rest of the most common and fascinating Jewish last names that do not fit cleanly into one category. Some are widely recognized. Others are less well known but carry extraordinary stories.
176. Auerbach
From the German town of Auerbach. A prominent rabbinic surname carried by one of the most important Ashkenazi scholars of the 20th century.
177. Bamberger
From the German city of Bamberg. Families who came from this city took its name as their own.
178. Bloch
From the German or Slavic word for a block of wood, or from a place name. A common Jewish surname with multiple possible origins.
179. Brody
From the Ukrainian city of Brody, one of the most important Jewish commercial centers of the 18th century.
180. Dubinsky
From the Slavic “dub,” meaning oak. A nature-based place surname common among Polish and Ukrainian Jewish families.
181. Ehrlich
Honest or honorable in German. A character surname expressing integrity. One of the most positive German Jewish surnames.
182. Einhorn
Unicorn in German. A mythical creature surname, unusual and memorable. Given to or chosen by families who displayed a unicorn symbol on their house.
183. Eisenberg
Iron mountain in German. From “Eisen,” meaning iron, and “Berg,” meaning mountain.
184. Eisner
Iron worker in German. An occupational surname for those who worked with iron.
185. Engel
Angel in German and Yiddish. A celestial surname given to families known for their goodness or beauty, or those who displayed an angel symbol on their home.
186. Epstein
From the German town of Eppstein. One of the most recognizable Ashkenazi surnames, carried by Jewish families from this Frankfurt-area town.
187. Frankel
From Frankfurt or from the Frankish region of Germany. A regional surname also used as a diminutive of Frank.
188. Friedman
Peace man in German and Yiddish. From “Friede,” meaning peace. One of the most common Jewish surnames in the world. The name of the Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman.
189. Fried
Peace in German and Yiddish. The root of Friedman and Friedberg. A short, calm surname.
190. Hirsch
Deer in German and Yiddish. A nature surname for the deer, which symbolized grace and speed in Jewish tradition.
191. Kagan
Already listed in the priestly section, but worth noting here as a widely spread Eastern European Jewish surname across Russia and Ukraine.
192. Kaminsky
From a place name containing “kamen,” meaning stone in Slavic languages. A stone-based place surname.
193. Kantor
Cantor in German and Yiddish. The cantor was the singer who led synagogue prayers. An occupational surname of great musical and religious honor.
194. Katzenellenbogen
One of the longest and most historically significant Jewish surnames. From the German town of Katzenelnbogen. Carried by a dynasty of rabbinic leaders considered one of the greatest in Ashkenazi history.
195. Kramer
Shopkeeper or small trader in German and Yiddish. Made culturally familiar through the television character Cosmo Kramer, though the surname long predates that association.
196. Lazarus
From the biblical Lazarus, the man raised from the dead by Jesus in the New Testament, but originally from the Hebrew name “Eliezer,” meaning God has helped.
197. Liebowitz
Son of the beloved one. From “Liebe,” meaning love in German and Yiddish, plus the Slavic “owitz” suffix.
198. Lipsky
From Lipsk or a similar Slavic place name containing “lipa,” meaning linden tree. A tree-based place surname.
What Makes Jewish Surnames So Unique
Jewish surnames are unlike almost any other naming tradition for a few very specific reasons.
They are newer than you think. Most Jewish families did not have fixed hereditary surnames until the late 1700s and early 1800s, when European governments required them for census and tax purposes. Before that, Jewish naming followed the biblical pattern of first name plus father’s name.
Many were assigned, not chosen. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Prussian territories, and Russia, government officials sometimes assigned surnames to Jewish families. Wealthy families could pay for beautiful names like Goldberg or Rosenberg. Others received less flattering assignments.
Acronym surnames are a Jewish invention. Names like Katz, Sacks, and Segal hide Hebrew phrases inside them. This was a uniquely Jewish way of preserving religious identity inside a name that looked normal to outsiders.
Hebraization created an entirely new category. When Israel was founded, thousands of Jewish immigrants changed their surnames into Hebrew words. This created a new branch of Jewish surnames that had never existed before 1948.
The same family can have many surname spellings. Because Jewish surnames were transcribed by officials in many different countries and languages, one family could end up with Levy in France, Levi in Italy, Levin in Russia, and Levine in America, all meaning the same thing and all tracing back to the same tribe.
Wrapping Up
Jewish surnames carry thousands of years of history in just a few letters. Whether a name came from a priestly title, a Polish town, a Hebrew word, or a government official with a pen and a ledger, every single one of them tells a story about where a family came from and how they survived.
If you are tracing your roots, writing a character, or just fascinated by names, this list gives you 198 of the most meaningful, most common, and most interesting Jewish last names in the world.
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