Jewish surnames are not just identifiers—they carry significant cultural, religious, and historical importance. Many Jewish surnames have evolved over time, reflecting geographical locations, professions, and familial traditions. This list explores the 70 most common Jewish surnames, their origins, meanings, and cultural significance.
What are the most common Jewish surnames?
It is common for Jewish surnames to refer to the parent or father, in this case we will talk about patronymic surnames.
On the other hand, many of the most common Jewish surnames are frequent in two Jewish communities: the Sephardim, who come from the Iberian Peninsula, and the Ashkenazi, the Jews of Germany and Eastern Europe, this community being much more recent.
Below we will see the most used Jewish surnames, as well as their origin and meaning. You will be able to see how the majority come from Hebrew, although we also observe German and Arabic influence. In reference to the meaning, the mention of God is typical, and it is also common that many of them can be used as both feminine and masculine names.
1. Cohen
Derived from the Hebrew word “kohen,” meaning “priest,” this surname indicates a direct descent from the priestly class of ancient Israel.
2. Levi
A surname associated with the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Descendants of the Levites were given special duties in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem.
3. Rosenberg
A German and Yiddish surname, meaning “rose mountain.” Likely refers to a picturesque location or a family with connections to nature.
4. Goldstein
This surname means “gold stone” in German. It could refer to a person living near a place associated with gold or wealth.
5. Friedman
Of Yiddish origin, this surname means “man of peace.” It likely refers to a peaceful or harmonious family background.
6. Schwartz
From German, meaning “black.” This surname may have referred to a person with dark features or someone who worked with dark materials, such as a blacksmith.
7. Katz
An acronym for the Hebrew “Kohen Tzedek”, meaning “priest of righteousness,” this surname often indicates a priestly lineage.
8. Stein
A German surname meaning “stone.” It could refer to a family that worked with stone or lived near a rock formation.
9. Weiss
Meaning “white” in German, this surname could refer to a person with fair features, such as light hair or skin.
10. Adler
Of German origin, meaning “eagle.” This surname symbolizes strength, power, and nobility, qualities associated with the eagle.
11. Rosen
A Yiddish surname derived from “rosen”, meaning “roses.” It likely refers to a family living near a rose garden or symbolizing beauty and love.
12. Klein
A German surname meaning “small.” This surname could have referred to a person of small stature or a family living in a small house or village.
13. Shapiro
A Yiddish surname likely originating from the town of Shapiro in Poland. It may also indicate a family’s connection to a rabbinic lineage.
14. Berman
This surname, of German origin, means “beer man.” It likely refers to a family involved in brewing or selling beer.
15. Levy
This surname signifies a descendant of the Levites, the priestly tribe of Israel. It is commonly found among Jewish communities.
16. Kaplan
Derived from the Hebrew word “kaplan”, meaning “falcon.” The surname suggests strength and nobility, often linked to Jewish families of high status.
17. Hirsch
A German surname meaning “deer.” This surname may refer to a person or family known for their agility or connection to the forest.
18. Ben-David
A patronymic surname meaning “son of David.” It signifies descent from King David, linking the family to Jewish royalty.
19. Bernstein
This German surname means “amber stone.” It could have referred to a family that worked with amber or lived near a place associated with amber.
20. Singer
A surname often indicating a person involved in singing or music. It is a common surname among Ashkenazi Jews, especially those in the entertainment field.
21. Rubin
Meaning “ruby” in Hebrew, this surname may have been adopted by families who lived near areas rich in precious stones or by those who worked with jewels.
22. Steinberg
A Yiddish surname combining “stein” (stone) and “berg” (mountain), it could refer to a family that lived near a mountain or rocky hill.
23. Shulman
This surname is derived from the Yiddish word “shul”, meaning “synagogue.” It may refer to a family associated with religious life or a synagogue.
24. Mandel
A Yiddish surname meaning “almond.” The name could have referred to a person who worked with almonds or lived near an almond grove.
25. Mandelbaum
A variation of Mandel, combining “baum” (tree) with “almond”. The surname could refer to a family living near an almond tree.
26. Rubinstein
A compound surname combining “rubin” (ruby) and “stein” (stone), this surname likely indicates a family working with or living near precious stones.
27. Finkelstein
A Yiddish surname meaning “diamond stone.” It is associated with families who either worked with diamonds or lived near mining areas.
28. Rosenthal
This surname combines “rosen” (rose) with “thal” (valley), likely referring to a family living in a valley with many roses or a location named for roses.
29. Hirschfeld
A compound surname from “hirsch” (deer) and “feld” (field), indicating a family living near a deer-filled field or forest.
30. Baum
A German surname meaning “tree.” This surname likely referred to a family who lived near trees or worked in forestry.
31. Cohen-Tzedek
A combination of “Cohen” and “Tzedek”, meaning “priest of justice.” This surname refers to someone from a priestly lineage with a focus on righteousness.
32. Glick
A Yiddish surname meaning “good luck” or “happiness.” It could have been adopted as a personal nickname or by families with optimistic outlooks.
33. Schlesinger
A surname of German origin, Schlesinger refers to a family originally from Silesia, a historical region in Central Europe.
34. Bialik
This surname is derived from the Yiddish word for “white” and could indicate a family living in an area known for light or whiteness.
35. Wolf
A German surname meaning “wolf.” It could have been used to refer to a family known for its strength, courage, or connection to wild animals.
36. Engel
A surname meaning “angel” in German. It likely refers to a family with a spiritual or religious connection.
37. Friedmann
This surname means “man of peace” in Yiddish. It signifies a family known for its peaceful nature.
38. Katzin
A variant of Katz, a surname denoting descent from the priestly Cohen lineage.
39. Levitt
A surname meaning “son of Levi.” It often refers to someone who belongs to the Levitical tribe.
40. Berman
Of German origin, Berman means “man of the mountain” or “mountain dweller.”
41. Edelstein
A surname meaning “precious stone” in Yiddish. It likely referred to a family with a connection to jewelry or precious metals.
42. Kleinman
A surname combining “klein” (small) and “man” (man), it could refer to a smaller or more humble family.
43. Horowitz
A surname of Jewish origin, Horowitz is most commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews. It likely originated from the town of Horovice in the Czech Republic.
44. Abrams
A surname of Hebrew origin, meaning “father of many.” It is often used to signify a connection to the biblical patriarch Abraham.
45. Rosner
A surname meaning “rose” in Yiddish, typically referring to someone with a connection to the flower or an area known for roses.
46. Zucker
Meaning “sugar” in German, this surname could have been adopted by families who either worked in the sugar industry or lived in areas associated with sugar.
47. Ziegler
A surname of German origin meaning “bricklayer.” It likely refers to a family involved in construction or masonry.
48. Horovitz
A variant of Horowitz, this surname also comes from the town of Horovice, with “Horovitz” indicating a person from this region.
49. Neumann
A surname meaning “new man” in German. It could refer to a family that was recently settled in an area or had a new beginning.
50. Guttman
A surname meaning “good man” in Yiddish, signifying a family known for its virtuous character.
51. Lazarus
A Hebrew surname referring to a biblical figure—the name means “God is my help.”
52. Weitzman
A surname meaning “white stone,” often referring to a family living near a white-colored stone or rock.
53. Rosenthal
A surname meaning “rose valley,” indicating a family who lived near a valley rich in roses or symbolizing beauty.
54. Miller
A surname meaning “miller” in Yiddish. It indicates a family that worked as millers, grinding grain into flour.
55. Cohen-Tzedek
A variation of Cohen, this surname emphasizes justice or righteousness in its religious and cultural significance.
56. Baumgarten
A German surname meaning “tree garden,” referring to a family who lived near a garden or grove of trees.
57. Ehrlich
A surname of Yiddish origin, meaning “honest” or “truthful.” It reflects a family known for its integrity.
58. Rosenblatt
This surname means “rose leaf” in German and Yiddish. It could refer to a family that worked with or lived near roses.
59. Lieberman
A surname meaning “dear man” or “beloved man,” often given to families with a reputation for being well-liked or respected.
60. Shapiro
A surname believed to originate from the town of Shapiro in Poland. It is a name associated with rabbinic lineages.
61. Braun
A German surname meaning “brown,” which could refer to a person with dark hair, skin, or a family with a connection to the color.
62. Altman
A surname meaning “old man” in German, often signifying a family that had lived in an area for a long time or had ancient roots.
63. Malkin
A Yiddish surname derived from the Hebrew “melech,” meaning “king.” It refers to a family of royal or noble descent.
64. Strauss
A German surname meaning “ostrich.” It could refer to a family symbolizing strength, speed, or a connection to birds.
65. Vogel
A surname meaning “bird” in German. It often symbolizes freedom, spirituality, or connection to nature.
66. Eisenberg
A German surname meaning “iron mountain,” signifying a family that may have worked with iron or lived near a mountainous region.
67. Lichtenstein
A surname meaning “light stone” in German, often referring to a family with a connection to a shining or illuminated stone or a region known for such features.
68. Mandel
This surname means “almond” in Yiddish, referring to a family connected to almond trees or orchards.
69. Spector
A surname meaning “specter” or “ghost” in Yiddish. It could refer to a family with an association to mystery or the supernatural.
70. Wolfson
A surname meaning “son of the wolf,” symbolizing strength and courage. It indicates a family lineage associated with nobility or power.
These 70 common Jewish surnames are reflective of the diverse and rich history of Jewish communities. They tell stories of geographic origins, professions, and family legacies.
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PsychologyFor. (2025). The 70 Most Common Jewish Surnames. https://psychologyfor.com/the-70-most-common-jewish-surnames/