Jewish last names carry deep history, faith, and culture. From Biblical roots to modern times, these surnames reflect identity, survival, and migration.
In this guide, you’ll discover 200+ Jewish last names and their meanings (with origins & history), covering Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and rare surnames.
Whether you’re doing a Jewish surname search, tracing Jewish genealogy, or simply curious, this A–Z list of Jewish surnames will guide you through centuries of heritage.
🔹 The History Behind Jewish Surnames
What Makes Jewish Last Names Unique?
Unlike many cultures, Jewish surnames developed later in history. For centuries, Jews used patronymics (son of Isaac, daughter of Jacob) instead of family names.
Over time, governments in Germany, Poland, and Eastern Europe required Jews to adopt permanent surnames in the 18th–19th centuries.
That’s why we see patterns like Cohen, Levi, Goldberg, Katz, Kaplan, and Shapiro still common today.
Jewish names often reflect:
- Faith (Cohen → priest, Levi → tribe of Levi)
- Occupation (Kaplan → chaplain, Schneider → tailor)
- Places (Oppenheim, Brody, Pomerantz)
- Character traits (Weiss → white, Klein → small)
This blend of religion, culture, and survival makes Jewish surnames one of the richest name traditions in the world.
Origins of Jewish Last Names Across Cultures
Jewish surnames reflect centuries of diaspora history.
- Sephardic Jews (Spain, Portugal, Mediterranean) → Many surnames come from places (Toledo, Cordova, Abarbanel) and Old Testament names. After the 15th century Spanish expulsion, Sephardic Jews spread to Turkey, Morocco, Yemen, and India.
- Ashkenazi Jews (Germany, Poland, Eastern Europe) → Many surnames come from occupations and Yiddish words. Names like Goldberg, Friedman, Rosenberg, and Katz grew common in the 18th–19th centuries.
- Middle Eastern & Yemenite Jews → Often retained biblical surnames like Abadi, Dayan, Ezra, and Saadia.
- American Jews → Many names were shortened, anglicized, or adapted, creating English Jewish surnames like Green, Miller, and Harris.
This mix explains why Jewish surnames today appear across Europe, Israel, the U.S., and beyond.
How Religion, Language, and Geography Shaped Jewish Surnames
Jewish surnames were shaped by:
- Religion → Names tied to the Hebrew Bible like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mordecai, and Levi.
- Language → Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Slavic, Arabic, and Ladino all influenced names.
- Geography → Towns like Horovice (Czech), Oppenheim (Germany), Brody (Ukraine), and Pomerania (Poland) gave rise to surnames.
- Migration → As Jews moved from Spain to the Ottoman Empire or Poland to the U.S., their names adapted.
Thus, Jewish surnames tell a story of both identity and survival.
🔹 Categories of Jewish Last Names
Biblical & Religious Jewish Last Names (With Meanings)
Many Jewish surnames come from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament):
- Cohen → priest, descendant of Aaron (brother of Moses).
- Levi / Levy / Levine → from the tribe of Levi, assistants in Temple service.
- Abrams / Abramson → from Abraham, patriarch of Israel.
- Isaacs / Isaacson → from Isaac, son of Abraham.
- Jacobson → from Jacob, father of the 12 tribes.
- Mordecai → linked to the Book of Esther.
- Segal → acronym for “Segan Leviyah,” meaning assistant Levite.
These Biblical surnames remain common Jewish last names today.
Occupational Jewish Last Names and Their Origins
Occupations shaped many Ashkenazi Jewish surnames:
- Schneider → tailor.
- Schreiber → scribe.
- Fleischer → butcher.
- Kaufman / Kaufmann → merchant.
- Weissman → white-haired man or wise man.
- Kaplan → chaplain.
- Singer → cantor or vocalist in synagogue.
Like English surnames (Smith, Baker), Jewish names often tied to work and trade.
Geographical Jewish Last Names (Based on Places & Regions)
Some surnames show where Jewish families lived:
- Berlin, Ulman, Trier, Oppenheimer → German towns.
- Brody, Pomerantz, Horowitz → Eastern Europe.
- Spinoza, Toledano → Spain.
- Ashkenazi → “German Jew.”
- Sephardi → “Spanish Jew.”
These names often mark migration paths of Jewish diaspora.
Descriptive & Character-Based Jewish Last Names
Some surnames describe appearance or traits:
- Weiss → white, fair.
- Klein → small.
- Gross → large.
- Roth → red.
- Schwarz → black.
- Freud → joy.
These descriptive names show how communities identified families.
Patronymic Jewish Last Names (Based on Family Lineage)
Patronymic names mean “son of”:
- Abramson → son of Abraham.
- Davidovich → son of David.
- Yitzhakson / Isaacson → son of Isaac.
- Mendelson → son of Mendel.
- Jacobson → son of Jacob.
- Ben-David → Hebrew form, son of David.
This naming pattern connects family ancestry directly to Jewish patriarchs.
🔹 Popular Jewish Last Names (With Meanings & Origins)
Most Common Jewish Last Names in the U.S.
In America, many Jews carry anglicized surnames:
- Cohen (priest)
- Levi / Levy / Levine (tribe of Levi)
- Katz (acronym: Kohen Tzedek, righteous priest)
- Goldberg (gold mountain)
- Friedman (man of peace)
- Rosenberg (rose mountain)
- Shapiro (from Speyer, Germany)
- Weiss (white)
These names dominate Jewish surname search databases today.
Famous Jewish Surnames in Europe & Israel
- Einstein (stone, famous scientist Albert Einstein).
- Rothschild (red shield, banking dynasty).
- Herzl (Theodor Herzl, father of modern Zionism).
- Ben-Gurion (David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister).
- Golda Meir (Israel’s first woman Prime Minister).
These names symbolize Jewish heritage, culture, and history.
Rare and Unique Jewish Last Names You Should Know
Some unique Jewish last names are less common:
- Abadi → Sephardic name from Syria.
- Dayan → judge.
- Saadia → helper.
- Abarbanel → Sephardic family expelled from Spain.
- Montefiore → Italian Jewish family.
These rare names show Jewish diversity beyond Ashkenazi roots.
🔹 Deep Dive: Meanings of Jewish Surnames A–Z
Below is a Jewish surnames A–Z list with meanings:
Jewish Last Names Starting With A–D
- Aarons / Aaronson → Descendant of Aaron.
- Abadi → Sephardic name.
- Adler → Eagle.
- Abramson → Son of Abraham.
- Appelbaum → Apple tree.
- Barenbaum → Berry tree.
- Blumenfeld → Flower field.
- Cohen → Priest.
- Davidovich → Son of David.
Jewish Last Names Starting With E–H
- Eisenberg → Iron mountain.
- Epstein → From Eppstein, Germany.
- Feldman → Man of the field.
- Friedman → Man of peace.
- Goldberg → Gold mountain.
- Goldman → Man of gold.
- Hirsch → Deer.
- Horowitz → From Horovice, Czech Republic.
Jewish Last Names Starting With I–L
- Isaacs → Son of Isaac.
- Jaffe → Beautiful.
- Katz → Righteous priest.
- Kaplan → Chaplain.
- Kaufman → Merchant.
- Kohn / Cohen → Priest.
- Levi / Levine / Levy → Tribe of Levi.
- Liebowitz → Son of beloved.
Jewish Last Names Starting With M–P
- Mandelbaum → Almond tree.
- Markowitz → Son of Mark.
- Nadel → Needle.
- Oppenheimer → From Oppenheim, Germany.
- Perl / Perelman → Pearl.
- Pomerantz → From Pomerania, Poland.
Jewish Last Names Starting With Q–T
- Rabinowitz → Son of Rabbi.
- Richter → Judge.
- Rosenthal → Rose valley.
- Schneider → Tailor.
- Shapiro → From Speyer, Germany.
- Singer → Cantor.
- Stern → Star.
- Teitelbaum → Palm tree.
Jewish Last Names Starting With U–Z
- Ullman → From Ulm, Germany.
- Waldman → Man of the forest.
- Weinberg → Wine mountain.
- Wolf / Wolff → Wolf.
- Zelman / Zuckerman → Sweet man, sugar dealer.
This Jewish surnames A–Z guide helps with Jewish surname research and tracing Jewish ancestry.
🔹 FAQs About Jewish Last Names
What Is the Oldest Known Jewish Last Name?
The surname Cohen (priest) is one of the oldest, tracing back to the Levites and Aaron, brother of Moses.
Which Jewish Last Names Are Most Common Today?
The most common are Cohen, Levi, Kaplan, Katz, Goldberg, Friedman, and Weiss, especially among Ashkenazi Jewish last names.
How Can I Trace My Jewish Family Name?
You can use Jewish genealogy databases, surname archives, and synagogue records. Start with a Jewish surname search for regions like Poland, Germany, Spain, or Israel.
🔹 Conclusion
Jewish last names hold centuries of faith, resilience, and identity. From Biblical surnames like Cohen and Levi to Polish-Jewish surnames and English Jewish surnames, each carries a story.
This guide of 200+ Jewish last names and their meanings (with origins & history) helps preserve Jewish heritage and supports anyone tracing Hebrew family history. In every name, you find a link to the Jewish diaspora and timeless traditions.
