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Type Surname (from nickname)
Usage Jewish
Scripts אשכנזי(Hebrew)
Pronounced Pron. ash-keh-na-ZEE(Hebrew) ash-kə-NA-zee(Hebrew)  [key·IPA]
Other Forms FormsAshkenazy

Meaning & History

From a nickname given by Jews in Slavic countries to Jews from Germany. It was also used to denote a Yiddish-speaking Jew who had settled in an area where non-Ashkenazic Jews were the majority. The name ultimately comes from Hebrew אַשְׁכְּנַז‎‎ (ashk'náz), a location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, which is likely from Assyrian Aškūza.
Added 10/17/2017 by HL
Edited 6/3/2020 by HL