Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is Jewish; and the source is Occupation.
usage
source
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abad Judeo-Spanish
Nickname from abad ‘priest’ (from Late Latin abbas ‘priest’, genitive abbatis, from the Aramaic word meaning ‘father’). The application is uncertain: it could be a nickname, an occupational name for the servant of a priest, or denote an (illegitimate) son of a priest.
Abitbol אביטבול Judeo-Spanish
Means "father of drums" (figuratively referring to a drum maker) from Arabic أَبُو (abū) meaning "father" and طَبْل (ṭabl) meaning "drum".
Abitbul אביטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Abiteboul אביטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Abourmad אבורמד Judeo-Spanish
Means "father of the ash collector", derived from Arabic رماد (ramad) meaning "ash, ashes".
Aboutboul אבוטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Abutbul אבוטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Adelstein German, Jewish
Variant of Edelstein. Paul Adelstein (1969-) is an American actor known for his role as Paul Kellerman in the 2005-2017 television series Prison Break.
Adida אדידה Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Hadida.
Alhadeff Judeo-Spanish
Possibly an occupational name for a weaver from Arabic الهداف (al-̣haddāf) meaning "the weaver's shuttle". Alternately, it may be from Arabic الهدى (al-hadā) meaning "the guided one".
Apfel German, Jewish
Means "apple" in German, from Middle High German apfel, an occupational name for someone who grew or sold apples. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Appel German, Dutch, Jewish, Yiddish
From Low German Appel, Middle Dutch appel, or Yiddish epl "apple", an occupational name for a grower or seller of the fruit. As a Jewish surname, it is generally ornamental rather than occupational.
Arousi ערוסי Jewish, Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, Arabic
Yemenite Jewish and Arabic name possibly deriving from Arabic words aroosi, "bridal, relating to a wedding", rousi, "groom". El Aroussi, a variant, is found densely in Morocco and Francophone populations (France, Canada).
Assayag אסייג Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Sayegh.
Attal אטאל Judeo-Spanish
Derived from Arabic عتال ('attal) meaning "porter, carrier".
Attali אטלי Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Attal.
Bacal Romanian, Jewish
Derived from Romanian bacal, an alternative form of băcan meaning "grocer".
Bacall Romanian, Jewish
Variant spelling of Bacal. A famous bearer was the American actress Lauren Bacall (1924-2014).
Bacri בכרי Judeo-Spanish
Possibly derived from Arabic بكر (bikr) meaning "firstborn, eldest". Alternately it may be an occupational name for a cowherd or cattle merchant from بقر (baqar) meaning "cattle".
Baranowski m Polish, Yiddish (Polonized)
From the the Polish word baran, meaning "ram", or from a place called Baranowo.
Bauman German, Jewish, Scandinavian
Respelling of German Baumann or Jewish (Ashkenazic) or Scandinavian spelling of the same name.
Belfer Jewish
Occupational name from Yiddish be(he)lfer, ba(he)lfer "teacher’s assistant".
Benatar בן עטר Judeo-Spanish
Means "son of the perfumer", derived from Arabic عطر ('atr) meaning "perfume, scent".
Benattar בן עטר Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Benatar.
Bickel German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German: from bickel ‘pickaxe’ or ‘chisel’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made pickaxes or worked with a pickaxe or for a stonemason. South German: from a pet form of Burkhart... [more]
Bieler German, Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element byel- ‘white’.... [more]
Bier German, Jewish
from Middle High German bier "beer" German bier Yiddish bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
Birne English, German, Jewish
Means "pear" in German, making it the German equivalent of Perry 1, perhaps originally referring to a person who harvested or sold pears... [more]
Bitbol ביטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Blonder Jewish
Inflected form of Blond.
Botbol בוטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Boutboul בוטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Brenner German, German (Austrian), Jewish
Derived from Middle High German brennen "to burn". Both as a German and a Jewish name, this was an occupational name for a distiller of spirits. As a German surname, however, it also occasionally referred to a charcoal or lime burner or to someone who cleared forests by burning.
Breuer German, Jewish
occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle High German briuwer "brewer". Cognate of Brewer.
Brook German, Jewish
Americanized spelling of German Bruch and Jewish Bruck.
Bruck Jewish
From Polish, Belorussian, or Yiddish bruk "pavement", possibly an occupational name for a paver.
Brucker Jewish
From Polish brukarz or Yiddish bruk "pavement", possibly an occupational name for a paver.
Buchbinder German, Jewish
German cognate of Bookbinder.
Bustan בוסתן Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Jewish
From Aramaic bustān meaning "garden". Perhaps someone who works or lives near a garden or an orchard.
Butbul בוטבול Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Abitbol.
Caan Scottish, German, Jewish
Altered spelling of Jewish Cohen, or probably denoted a person from the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Famous bearers of this surname include American actor James Caan (1940-2022), as well as his son Scott Caan (1976-), also a noted actor.
Caplan Jewish
Variant of Kaplan
Caslari Jewish (Archaic), Judeo-Provençal, Judeo-Catalan, Judeo-French
Abraham ben David Caslari was a Catalan-Jewish physician. Abraham Caslari (presumably a different man) is also listed in the index of known Jews in France in the late middle ages in the book Judaia Gallica by Heinrich Gross.
Chait Jewish
Jewish occupational name derived from the Hebrew word חייט‎ meaning "tailor".
Chasen Jewish
From the Hebrew חזן "cantor".
Chemla שמלה Jewish (Sephardic)
Derived from Arabic ﺷﻤﻠﺔ (shamlah) meaning "cloak, mantle", probably used as a name for someone who wore, made or sold cloaks.
Chrysler German, Jewish
From a German name referring to spinning or related to a Yiddish word, krayzl meaning "spinning top." The name can refer to a potter who spun a wheel to make utensils or to a person with curly hair or someone known for being continually active... [more]
Clayman English, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Anglicized form of Ashkenazic Jewish Kleimann or Kleiman, from German 'Klei' meaning "clay" and "mann" meaning "man".
Coen כהן Jewish
Variant of Cohen.
Dahan דהן Jewish (Sephardic)
Occupational name for a painter or a seller of oils from Arabic دُهْن (duhn) meaning "grease, fat, oil".
Dayan דיין Hebrew
Means "judge" in Hebrew.
Dier דייר Jewish
the name allegedly means "dyer (of clothes)"
Drell Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Metonymic occupational name from East Slavic drel meaning “borer, gimlet.”
Drescher Yiddish, German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a thresher, German Drescher, Yiddish dresher, agent derivatives of Middle High German dreschen, Yiddish dresh(e)n 'to thresh'.... [more]
Drucker German, Dutch, Jewish
Occupational name for an operator of a printing press, derived from German drucken "to print".
Druckmann German, Jewish
Variant of Drucker. A famous bearer of the name is the Israeli-American writer Neil Druckmann (1978-).
Duchovny Russian, Ukrainian, Jewish
Russian and Ukrainian cognate of Duchowny. It is borne by the American actor David Duchovny (1960-).
Duchowny Polish, Jewish
Means "clergyman" in Polish.
Eisen German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an ironworker or smith, or an ironmonger, from Middle High German isen ‘iron’, German Eisen. It may also have been used as a nickname, with reference to the strength and hardness of iron or to its color, while as a Jewish name it was also adopted as an ornamental name from modern German Eisen ‘iron’ or the Yiddish cognate ayzn.
Eisenstein German, Jewish
topographic name for someone who lived by a place where iron ore was extracted or perhaps a habitational name from a place called for its iron works. Jewish artificial compound of German isarn "iron" and stein "stone".
Eisner German, Jewish
Occupational name for an ironworker, smith, or ironmonger, from an agent derivative of Middle High German īsen and German Eisen, meaning ‘iron’ (see Eisen).
Elbaz אלבז Judeo-Spanish, Arabic
Alternate transcription of Albaz.
Elmaleh אלמלח‎ Judeo-Spanish, Arabic
From Arabic مَالِح (māliḥ) meaning "salty, savoury", probably used to refer to a salt trader.
Elmalih אלמליח Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Elmaleh.
Emer Jewish
Metonymic occupational name from Yiddish emer "pail, bucket".
Euler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a potter, most common in the Rhineland and Hesse, from Middle High German ul(n)ære (an agent derivative of the dialect word ul, aul "pot", from Latin olla).
Fayerman פֿײַערמאַן Yiddish
It literally means "fireman".
Feder German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a trader in feathers or in quill pens from Middle High German vedere German feder "feather quill pen"... [more]
Fell English, German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a furrier, from Middle English fell, Middle High German vel, or German Fell or Yiddish fel, all of which mean "skin, hide, pelt". Yiddish fel refers to untanned hide, in contrast to pelts "tanned hide" (see Pilcher).
Feller English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative of Middle English fell, Middle Low German, Middle High German vel, or German Fell or Yiddish fel "hide, pelt". See also Fell.
Fenster German, Jewish
Occupational name for a window maker from Middle High German venster German fenster "window".
Firestone German (Americanized), Jewish (Americanized)
Calque (translation into English) of the German and Ashkenazi surname Feuerstein.
Fisch German, Jewish
From German (fisch) meaning "fish".
Fischmann German, Jewish
Cognate of Fishman. occupational name for a fish seller from Middle High German fisc Yiddish fish (German fisch) "fish" and Middle High German and Yiddish man (German mann) "man".
Fish Medieval English, Jewish
From Middle English fische, fish ‘fish’, a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller, or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a fish.... [more]
Fleischhacker German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher from German fleisch "flesh meat", and an agent derivative of hacken "to chop or cut".
Fleischmann German, Jewish
occupational name for a butcher literally "meatman, butcher" from Middle High German fleisch "flesh, meat" and man "man".
Forster English (Anglicized), German, Jewish, Slovak
English: occupational and topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a forest (see Forrest). ... [more]
Frischkorn German, Jewish
An occupational name for a farmer composed of German frisch "fresh" and korn "grain"... [more]
Furman Polish, Czech, Slovak, Jewish, Slovene, English, German (Anglicized)
Polish, Czech, Slovak, Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic), and Slovenian: occupational name for a carter or drayman, the driver of a horse-drawn delivery vehicle, from Polish, Yiddish, and Slovenian furman, a loanword from German (see Fuhrmann)... [more]
Futterman Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Yiddish futer "fur, fur coat" and Yiddish man "man".
Garson Scottish, French, English, German (Anglicized), Spanish, Jewish
Variant of Scottish Carson and Corston, French Garçon, Spanish-Jewish Garzon and English Garston, or an Americanised form of German Gerson... [more]
Garten German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a gardener or overseer of a garden or enclosure. Originally the term denoted the keeper of an enclosure for deer later of a vineyard or smallholding from Middle High German garte "garden enclosure"... [more]
Ghez גז Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Guez.
Gildner Jewish
Occupational name for a worker in gold, from Yiddish gildner 'golden'.
Goldfarb English, German, Jewish
Goldfarb is a Jewish occupational name that was originally derived from the Old German word gold.
Goldmann German, Jewish
occupational name for someone who worked with gold denoting anything from a gold-miner to a maker of gold jewelry or a gilder (someone skilled in decorating surfaces with a very thin layer of gold leaf)... [more]
Goldstern Yiddish (Germanized, Rare)
It is a Jewish surname that means (Gold Star), which in Hebrew is כוכב המלך דוד the star of King David. This surname has its origins in Hungary, Austria and Germany, this surname was bought by the Jews who worked as sellers of gold, diamonds, emeralds and jewels... [more]
Guez גז Judeo-Spanish
Either derived from Hebrew גָּזַז (gazaz) meaning "to shear, to cut (hair)" or Arabic قزاز (qazzaz) meaning "silk merchant, sericulturist".
Guralnick Jewish
Occupational name from Ukrainian guralnyk, Yiddish guralnik "distiller".
Gutnik גוטניק Ukrainian, Russian, Yiddish
Yiddish surname meaning "glassworker" from Yiddish hute meaning "glassworks".
Habermann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a grower or seller of oats, composed of the elements Haber and the agent suffix -mann.
Hackmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher or a woodcutter.
Hadad חדד Arabic, Jewish
Alternate transcription of Arabic حداد (see Haddad), also used by Jews.
Hadida חדידה Judeo-Spanish
Derived from Arabic حديد (hadid) meaning "iron", used as an occupational name for a blacksmith.
Hafer German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a grower of or dealer in oats, from German Hafer "oats". Compare Haber. As a Jewish surname, it is in many cases ornamental.
Hagan Jewish
Hebrew, shortened from haganah which means soldier
Haïk הייק Judeo-Spanish
French variant of Haik.
Haik חיאק Judeo-Spanish
From the name of a garment worn by Algerian women, derived from Arabic حاك (hak) meaning "to weave". It was used as an occupational name for a maker of these garments.
Halfen חלפון Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Halfon.
Halfon חלפון Judeo-Spanish
Occupational name derived from Hebrew חלפן (khalfan) meaning "money changer".
Halphen חלפון Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Halfon.
Hammer German, English, Jewish
From Middle High German hamer, Yiddish hamer, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of hammers, for example in a forge, or nickname for a forceful person.
Hammerschmidt German, Jewish
Occupational name for a blacksmith, from German hamer, 'hammer' and schmidt, 'smith. See Hammersmith.
Handelman Jewish
Occupational name for a tradesman merchant or dealer.
Häuter German, Jewish
German cognate of Skinner, from German haut "skin, hide".
Haver English, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Jewish
Occupational name for someone who grows or sells oats.
Hayat חייט Hebrew
Means "tailor" in Hebrew.
Hazzan Jewish
Occupational name for a cantor or singer of a synagogue, from Hebrew חזן (khazán) "cantor, leader of a congregation".
Hefner German, Jewish
Recorded in several spellings including Hafner, Haffner, and Hevner, this is as surname of early Germanic origins. ... [more]
Heimberger German, Jewish
Variant spelling of Heimburger.
Heimburger German, Jewish
Status name for a village head, derived from Middle High German heim meaning "homestead, settlement" and bürge meaning "guardian". It could also be a habitational name for someone from numerous places called Heimburg or Heimberg in Germany.
Hein German, Dutch, Danish, Jewish
German, Dutch, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from a short form of the Germanic personal name Heinrich.
Herschmann German, Yiddish
Variant of Hersch with the addition of the German suffix -mann meaning "man".
Hirschl הירשל German, Jewish
Variant of Hirschel
Holder German, Jewish, English
1. German: topographic name for someone who lived by an elder tree. Middle High German holder, or from a house named for its sign of an elder tree. In same areas, for example Alsace, the elder tree was believed to be the protector of a house... [more]
Honig German, Jewish
Metonymic name for a gatherer or seller of honey, from Middle High German honec, honic "honey", German Honig.
Hutnyk Ukrainian, Yiddish (Rare)
Ukrainian spelling of Gutnik.
Hyatt Jewish (Americanized)
Americanized form of Chait.
Kagan כגן‎ Jewish
Eastern Ashkenazic form of Cohen.
Kahana לאמר Jewish
Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew surname, Cohen.
Kalp German, Jewish
From Middle High German kalp ‘calf’, German Kalb, probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for someone who reared calves.
Kämpf German, Jewish
From middle high German kampf, German kamf "fight, struggle" an occupational name for a champion a professional fighter (see Kemp ) or a nickname for someone with a pugnacious temperament.
Kaplan קפלן German, Czech, Jewish
Means "chaplain, curate" in German and Czech, ultimately from Latin cappellanus. It is also sometimes used as a Jewish name, from a translation of Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen) meaning "priest" (see Cohen).
Karman Jewish
From Russian карман (karman) meaning "pocket, bag pocket", probably an occupational name for someone who made such items. Alternatively, could derive from Hungarian Kármán.
Katsav קַצָּב Hebrew
Occupational name for a butcher, derived from Hebrew קַצָּב (qatzav) meaning "butcher, purveyor of meat". A famous bearer is former Israeli president Moshe Katsav (1945-), born Musa Qassab.
Katsir קציר Hebrew
Variant of Katzir.
Katzav קַצָּב Hebrew
Variant of Katsav.
Katzir קציר Hebrew
Occupational name derived from Hebrew קָצִיר (qatsiyr) meaning ""harvesting, reaping", ultimately from קָצַר (qatsar). A famous bearer was the Israeli president and scientist Ephraim Katzir (1916-2009), born Efraim Katchalski.
Katziyr קציר Hebrew
Variant of Katzir.
Kazan Jewish
From Hebew chazan, which is an occupational name for a cantor in a synagogue.
Kellner German, Dutch, Jewish, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, French
Means "waiter, cellarman" in German, ultimately derived from Latin cellarium "pantry, cellar, storeroom". This was an occupational name for a steward, a castle overseer, or a server of wine.
Kern German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "kernel, grain, core" in Dutch, German, and Yiddish (as קערן), an occupational name for a farmer or a nickname for a physically small person. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Kessler German, Jewish
Means "kettle-maker, tinker", denoting a maker of copper or tin cooking vessels, derived from Middle High German kezzel meaning "kettle, cauldron". In some instances, it could have referred to the shape of a landform.
Kimmel German, Jewish
Derived from Middle High German kumin and German kümmel meaning "caraway" (related to Latin cuminum, a word of Oriental origin, like the plant itself), hence a metonymic occupational name for a spicer, literally a supplier of caraway seeds... [more]
Kindermann German, Jewish
occupational name for a schoolteacher literally "children man", from the elements kind "child" and man "man".
Klempner German, Jewish
Means "plumber, tinsmith" in German, derived from Middle Low German klampe "clamp".
Klopfer German, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Derived from Middle High German klopfen "to knock, pound, hammer", an occupational name for a clothmaker, metalworker, miner, or hunter. As a Jewish name, it can refer to a shulklopfer, someone who knocks to call people to synagogue.
Kober German, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
From Middle High German kober "basket". This was used as either an occupational name for a basket maker or a nickname for someone who carried a basket on his back.
Kogan Jewish (Russified)
Russified version of the common Jewish surname Cohen.
Kohen Jewish, Hebrew, English
Hebrew form of Cohen.
Kohn Jewish
Variant of Cohen.
Kotlarz Polish, Jewish
Occupational name for a boilermaker or coppersmith, from the Polish word kotlarz meaning "boilermaker".
Kowalewski Polish, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from places called Kowalew or Kowalewo, named with kowal "smith" or an occupational name for a blacksmith.
Kreisler German, Jewish
Derivative of Kreisel with the agent suffix -er.
Kremer German, Dutch, Jewish
Variant of German Krämer or Dutch Kramer.
Krengel German, Jewish
An occupational name for a pastry chef from Middle High German krengel German kringel "(cake) ring doughnut". As a Jewish name this may also have been adopted as artificial name.
Kritzman German, Jewish
German (Kritzmann): topographic name for someone living near a cross.... [more]
Krochmal Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew
Krochmal (Yiddish: קראָכמאַל, Hebrew, קרוכמל/קרוכמאל) is a rare Ashkenazi-Jewish-Polish surname meaning "laundry starch" (a starch solution in water used to whiten and stiffen fabric)... [more]
Krupskaya f Russian, Yiddish (Russified)
Derived from Russian крупа (krupa), meaning "grains". This was the last name of Nadezhda Krupskaya, Lenin's wife.
Kupfer German, Jewish
German (Küpfer) and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a worker or trader in copper, Middle High German kupfer, German Kupfer ‘copper’... [more]
Kupferschmidt German, Jewish
German cognate of Coppersmith, from German Kupferschmied "brazier, coppersmith".
Kutscher German, Jewish
occupational name for a coachman or coach builder from a derivative of the 16th-century Hungarian loanword kocsi "coach" German kutsche. The German -u- vowel comes from Slavic (Polish kucer).
Lander German, Jewish
Topographic or status name from Middle High German lant "land, territory".
Las Polish, Jewish (Ashkenazi, ?)
From Polish las, meaning "forest, wood".
Lerner German, Jewish
Its literal meaning can be either "student" or "scholar".
Licht German, Dutch, Yiddish
Means "light" or "candle". Could be an occupational name for a chandler, a topographic name for someone who lived in a clearing (see Lichte), or a nickname for someone who had light hair, or who was agile and slender.
Lichter German, Jewish
Occupational name for someone who made candles or possibly for someone who tended a light, from an agent derivative of from Middle High German lieht, Yiddish likht "candle, light".
Linn German (Silesian), Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Derived from the Slavic word lin "tench (fish)", a nickname for a fisherman, or for a person who somehow resembled a tench.
Lurie Jewish
It is one of the oldest family trees in the world, tracing back at least to King David born c. 1037 BCE, as documented by Neil Rosenstein in his book The Lurie Legacy... [more]
Maisel Yiddish, German, French
Predominantly seems to be a matronymic surname from the Yiddish feminine name Mayzl. Although it is believed that it derived from the Hebrew name Meïser, which means “representative of God”... [more]
Malka מלכה Hebrew
Means "queen" in Hebrew.
Malyar מליאר Ukrainian, Jewish (Ashkenazi, ?)
Means "painter" in Ukrainian.
Maslov Russian, Jewish
Derived from Russian масло (maslo) meaning "butter", originally used as an occupational name for someone who worked as a dairyman or sold dairy products.
Melamed Hebrew
It means "teacher".
Messing מתעסק, מעסינג German, Jewish
Derived from Middle High German messinc meaning "brass", referring to a person who makes or repairs brass objects. A famous bearer is American actress Debra Messing (1968-).
Miodownik Polish, Jewish
The literal translation is "honey cake", from the Polish word/root surname miod, meaning "honey." An occupational surname to those in the honey business, mainly beekeepers and bakers.... [more]
Mirschel Yiddish
Jewish (Ashkenazic) and German variant of Herschel.
Mitnick Ukrainian, Jewish
Occupational name from Ukrainian mytnyk, Polish mytnik, which means ‘toll collector’.
Muchnik Russian, Jewish
Jewish name, from the Russian, meaning "flour merchant".
Muscat מוסקט German, Jewish
Variant of Muskat.
Muskat מוסקט German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spice merchant from Middle High German muscāt meaning "nutmeg mace". As a Jewish name however it is mainly ornamental.
Nacache נקש Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Nakache.
Naccache נקש Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Nakache.
Nacht German, Jewish
From middle German naht meaning "night".
Nachtmann German, Jewish
Derived from German nacht "night" and mann, referring to a night watchman. As a Jewish name it is ornamental.
Nadel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of needles, or in some cases for a tailor, from Middle High German nadel(e), German Nadel "needle".
Nakache נקש Judeo-Spanish
From Arabic نقاش (naqqash) meaning "engraver, inscriber, sculptor".
Nakkache נקש Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Nakache.
Nazareth Hebrew
From the Hebrew for "To guard."
Nichter נײַטער German, Yiddish
Possibly means "negator, negate" from Middle High German nicht meaning "not", or "sober", from Middle High German nüchter. Perhaps it originally denoted a person who was a philosopher, judge, or bartender.
Obst German, Jewish
Means "fruit" in German, denoting someone who grows or sells fruit. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Ochs German, Jewish
Means "ox" in German, derived from Middle High German ohse, possibly denoting a strong person or someone who worked with oxen. As a Jewish name it is ornamental.
Orowitz Jewish, German
The name comes from a famous Rabbinical dynasty.... [more]
Paler Jewish, Yiddish (Ukrainianized), English (Rare)
Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): occupational name for a distiller, a Yiddishized form of Ukrainian palyar 'distiller'. English: variant of Paylor.
Paley Jewish, Yiddish, Belarusian, Ukrainian
Occupational name for a distiller, derived from an East Slavic word (Russian палить (palitʹ), Ukrainian палити (palyty)) meaning "to burn". A famous bearer was Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley (1865-1929), the morganatic second wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia.
Papier French, German, Jewish
Means "paper" in French and German, denoting a paper maker or merchant, both derived from Old French papier.
Parnes Jewish
Eastern Ashkenazic occupational name for the president of a Jewish community, from Yiddish parnes (from Hebrew parnas).
Parness Jewish
Variant of Parnes.
Pechtold German, Dutch, Jewish
From the Old German given name Pechtholt, which is composed of the elements pecht "rotation" and holdt "hero". As a Dutch-language surname, it is derived from the Middle Dutch given name Pechte combined with Old High German walt "power, authority"... [more]
Peltz German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German bellez, (modern German pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Pelz German, Jewish
Variant of Peltz.
Pfeffer German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spicer, or a nickname for a person with a fiery temper, for a small man, or for a dark-haired person. Derived from German Pfeffer "pepper".
Pflaum German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name or possibly a nickname from Middle High German pflūme, German pflaume "plum", as a Jewish name it is artificial... [more]
Portnoy Jewish, Belarusian, Ukrainian
Occupational name for a tailor from Russian portnoj (an adjective derivative of port "uncut cloth").
Press English, Jewish
A nickname for a pious individual from the Middle English form of "priest" or possibly someone employed by a priest. In the Jewish sense, one whose occupation was to iron clothes.
Prins Dutch, Jewish
Means "prince" in Dutch, a doublet of Prince. Often a habitational name for someone who lived or worked near a location named Prins, such as an inn or windmill, or sign depicting the Prince of Orange... [more]
Rabinovich ראבינאוויטש Yiddish, Russian
Means "son of the rabbi" (through the name Rabin), referring to a scholar or teacher of the Torah in Judaism.
Rabinovitch ראבינאוויטש Yiddish
Variant transcription of Rabinovich.
Rabinovitz ראבינאוויטש Yiddish
Variant of Rabinovich.
Rabinowitz Jewish
Germanized variant of Rabinovich.
Rabinsky Jewish
From the root rabi "rabbi" combined with the Polish suffix -ski
Rak Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Hungarian, Jewish
Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Hungarian (Rák), and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from Slavic rak ‘crab’, ‘lobster’, or ‘crayfish’. This was applied as an occupational name for someone who caught and sold crayfish, crabs, or lobsters, or as a nickname to someone thought to resemble such a creature... [more]
Rather German, Jewish
1. Occupational name for a counsellor or nickname for a wise person, from Middle High German rater ‘adviser’. ... [more]
Reznik רעזניק Russian, Yiddish
Derived from Yiddish "רעזניק (reznik)" meaning butcher.... [more]
Reznikov רזניקוב Russian, Jewish
Occupational name for a Jewish ritual slaughterer, from Yiddish reznik meaning "butcher".
Reznyk רעזניק Ukrainian, Yiddish (Ukrainianized)
Derived from Yiddish "רעזניק (reznik)" meaning butcher.
Rybak Polish, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Jewish
Means "fisherman" in some Slavic languages. Derived from the word ryba "fish". A famous bearer is Byelarusian-Norwegian artist Alexander Rybak (b. 1986) who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009.
Sabag סבג Hebrew
Israeli modern form of Sabbagh.
Saenger German, Jewish
Occupational name for a chorister or a nickname for someone who liked singing, from Middle High German senger, German Sänger meaning "singer".
Saltzman Jewish, German
Altered spelling of Salzmann.
Salzmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a producer or seller of salt, from German salz "salt" + mann "man".
Samet German, Jewish, Yiddish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of velvet, from Yiddish samet ‘velvet’ (German Samt, ultimately from Greek hexamiton, a compound of hex ‘six’ + mitos ‘thread’).
Sandler Jewish
Occupational name for a sandalmaker, from Hebrew סנדל (sandal) "sandal", ultimately of Latin origin. A famous bearer of the name is American actor Adam Sandler (1966-).
Sarver English, Jewish
English and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) occupational name from Old French serveur (an agent derivative of server ‘to serve’), Yiddish sarver ‘servant’.
Sayag סיאג Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Sayegh.
Schaal שָׁאַל German, Dutch, French, Jewish
Either a nickname for a braggart or a market crier, (derived from Middle High German schal meaning "noise, bragging"), an occupational name for someone who made dishes for scales and vessels for drinking, (from Middle Low German and Dutch schale "dish"), a habitational name from Schaala in Thuringia or the Schaalsee lake near Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, or a topographic name for someone living on marshy land, (from Dutch schald "shallow")... [more]
Schaffner German, Jewish, German (Swiss)
German: occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffer.
Schatz German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a treasurer, from German Schatz ‘treasure’, Middle High German scha(t)z. It may also have been a nickname for a rich man (or ironically for a miser), or else for a well-liked person or a ladies’ favorite, from the use of the vocabulary word as a term of endearment... [more]
Scheid German, Jewish
Either a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary (between two valleys etc.) or crossroads Middle High German scheide, a habitational name from any of various places called Scheidt Scheiden... [more]
Schenkel German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "leg, shank", an occupational name for a butcher or a nickname for someone with long or otherwise notable legs.
Schermann German, Jewish
German cognate of Sherman 1 derived from the elements skeran "to cut, to shear" and Middle High German man "man".
Schiff German, Jewish
From Middle High German Schif "ship", indicating the bearer was either a sailor, or lived in a house distinguished by a ship sign.
Schneid German, Jewish
Variant form of Schneider. Means "cut"
Scholman Jewish, German (Americanized)
Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Chaim, Hyman, Ari, Avi, Batya, Chana, Ephraim, Gershon, Isidor, Mandel.... [more]
Schue German, Jewish
Variant of Schuh.
Schuh German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes, derived from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe". In some cases, it may have denoted a person to a house distinguished by the sign of a shoe.
Schuler Jewish
Occupational name for a Talmudic scholar or the sexton of a synagogue, from an agent derivative of Yiddish shul "synagogue".
Schulman Yiddish
Refers to a person, typically a Rabbi, who works at a Shul (Synagogue in Yiddish.)... [more]
Schuman German, Jewish
Anglicised form of Schumann.
Schumann German, Jewish
An occupational name for a shoemaker, cobbler. From Middle High German scuoh "shoe" and man "man".
Schut Jewish
Occupational name from East Slavic šut "jester, fool".
Schwimer German, Jewish
Occupational name meaning "swimmer" in German. As a Jewish name, it may be ornamental.
Sebag סבאג Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Sabbagh.
Sebbag סבאג Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Sabbagh.
Seid Jewish
Metonymic occupational name from German Seide and Yiddish zayd "silk"
Seide German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German side, German Seide ‘silk’ (from Late Latin seta, originally denoting animal hair), hence a metonymic occupational name for a manufacturer or seller of silk.
Seif German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a soap maker, from Middle High German seife, German Seife 'soap'.
Setzer German, Jewish
Derived from either Middle High German "setzen", used to refer to market inspectors and tax officials, or Yiddish "setser", a typesetter.
Seuss German, Jewish
Means "sweet", "pleasant", or "agreeable".
Shalit שליט Hebrew
From Hebrew שליט (shalit) meaning "ruler" or "ruling, governing, dominant".
Sharett שָׁרֵת Hebrew
Means "minister, servant", from Hebrew שָׁרַת (sharath) literally meaning "to minister, to serve". This surname was adopted by Moshe Sharett (1894-1965), born Moshe Chertok, who was the first foreign minister and later the second Prime Minister of Israel.
Shemla שמלא Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Chemla.
Shipper German, Jewish, English
German and Jewish Cognate and English variant of Schipper. occupational name from Middle English shippere "shipman sailor seaman" (Old English scipere) perhaps also with the sense "skipper" (Middle Low German schipper).
Shnayder שניידר Jewish (Russified)
Russified form of Schneider.
Shnayderman שנײַדערמאַן Yiddish
It literally means "snitherman".
Shpigl שפּיגל Yiddish
Yiddish form of Spiegel.
Shue German (Anglicized), Jewish (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Schuh or Schue. A famous bearer of this name is the American actress Elisabeth Shue (1963-).
Shulman שולמן Jewish
It is a Jewish-Polish surname that first appeared around 1090. It means Rabai, Gabbai, or Shamash. These are occupations that take place in a Shul-Synagogue. Shul is the Yiddish word for Synagogue. The name litterally means 'man that goes to the Synagogue'.
Silber German, Jewish
From Middle High German silber, German Silber "silver"; a metonymic occupational name for a silversmith, or often, in the case of the Jewish surname, an ornamental name.
Silbermann German, Jewish
Variant of Silber. from Middle High German silber German silber "silver" and Middle High German Yiddish man "man" an occupation for a man who worked with silver.
Slotnick Jewish (Anglicized, Modern)
A Polish, Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian surname, meaning 'goldsmith'. Also a Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) occupational name for a goldsmith. Variant/anglicization of Polish Zlotnik, Ukrainian Zlotnyk.
Snyder Dutch, English, German, Yiddish, Jewish
Means "tailor" in Dutch, an occupational name for a person who stitched coats and clothing.... [more]
Sobaĺ Belarusian, Jewish
Belarusian form of Sobol.
Spector ספקטור Jewish
From Polish szpektor meaning "teacher's assistant (in a Jewish school)", ultimately from inspektor meaning "supervisor".
Spektor ספקטור Jewish
Variant of Spector.
Spelling English, Irish, Jewish
Occupational name for a scholar, speaker or a story teller, derived from Middle English spellan meaning "to tell or relate". It could also be a variant of Irish Spillane or Jewish Spellman... [more]
Spicer English, Jewish, Polish
English: occupational name for a seller of spices, Middle English spic(i)er (a reduced form of Old French espicier, Late Latin speciarius, an agent derivative of species ‘spice’, ‘groceries’, ‘merchandise’).... [more]
Spiegel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" (via Old High German from Latin speculum, a derivative of specere "to look").
Spiegelman שפיגלמאן, שפיגלמן German (Germanized, Rare, Archaic), Yiddish (Germanized, Rare, Archaic)
The name Spiegelman is a name with both German and Jewish origins. In German the word "Spiegel" translates to "mirror". Also "Mann" translates to "man". So one could interpret the name to mean "mirror man" or less often "man of the mirror"... [more]
Spiegler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" and the agent suffix -er.
Spieler German, Jewish
Occupational Name For A Tumbler Or Jester German Spieler ‘Player’ Middle High German Spilære An Agent Derivative Of Spiln ‘To Play To Jest To Sport’.
Śpiewak Polish, Jewish
Means "singer" in Polish, an occupational name for a chorister or a ballad singer. As a Jewish name, also an occupational name for a cantor in a synagogue.
Spindler English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spindle maker, from an agent derivative of Middle English spindle, Middle High German spindel, German Spindel, Yiddish shpindl "spindle, distaff".
Staub German (Swiss), German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational nickname for a miller, from Middle High German stoup, German Staub ‘dust’. The Jewish surname may also be ornamental.
Stauber German, Jewish
An occupational name from Staub, with the addition of the German agent suffix -er.
Steinmetz German, Jewish
Occupational name from Middle High German steinmetze, German steinmetz "stonemason", "worker in stone".
Stich German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a tailor or cobbler from Middle High German stich German stich "stitch".
Stoller German, Jewish, English
Habitational surname for someone from a place called Stolle, near Zurich (now called Stollen).... [more]
Tabak Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a seller of tobacco, from German Tabak, Yiddish and Ukrainian tabik (all ultimately from Spanish tabaco, a word of Caribbean origin). Tobacco was introduced to Europe in the 16th century.
Tambor Jewish
Derived from German Tambour "drummer in a regiment", ultimately via French tambour from Old French tambor "drum".
Tatelman Russian, Yiddish
Man who tats or sew