Journey through the rich tapestry of 71 Irish Jewish surnames, reflecting centuries of cultural integration and identity. These names highlight the remarkable stories of Jewish families who made Ireland their home, contributing to the island’s diverse heritage while preserving their own traditions.
71 Irish Jewish Surnames
Abrams – Derived from the Hebrew name Abraham, meaning “father of many nations,” adopted by Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Adler – Meaning “eagle” in German, often found among Jewish families in Irish immigrant communities.
Baruch – A Hebrew name meaning “blessed,” used by Jewish families in Ireland.
Berg – Meaning “mountain” in German, a common Jewish surname found among Irish Jewish families.
Bernstein – Meaning “amber stone” in German, often used by Jewish families who settled in Ireland.
Bloom – Associated with the Jewish character Leopold Bloom in James Joyce’s Ulysses, often used metaphorically for Jewish-Irish identity.
Blum – Meaning “flower” in German, used by Jewish families with European ancestry in Ireland.
Cohen – Meaning “priest” in Hebrew, a common Jewish surname, representing descendants of the ancient priestly class, found among Irish Jewish communities.
Deutsch – Meaning “German” in Yiddish, reflecting Ashkenazi origins, sometimes used by Jewish families in Ireland.
Edelstein – Meaning “precious stone” in German, linked to Jewish families of European descent in Ireland.
Feinberg – Meaning “fine mountain” in German, a surname carried by Jewish families in Ireland.
Feldman – Meaning “field man” in German, often associated with Jewish immigrants to Ireland.
Fischer – Meaning “fisherman,” often linked to Jewish families with European origins who later settled in Ireland.
Frankel – Derived from a term meaning “Frankish,” indicating European Jewish origins, found in Irish Jewish populations.
Friedlander – Meaning “man of peace,” often linked to Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Friedman – Derived from German meaning “man of peace,” reflecting Jewish ancestry among families in Ireland.
Fuchs – Meaning “fox” in German, a surname carried by Jewish families in Ireland.
Glickman – Meaning “lucky man” in Yiddish, reflecting prosperity among Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Goldberg – A common Jewish surname meaning “gold mountain,” reflecting European origins, found in Jewish-Irish families.
Goldblatt – Meaning “gold leaf” in German, a surname linked to Jewish communities with ties to Ireland.
Goldfarb – Meaning “gold color” in German or Yiddish, a common surname for Jewish families, some of whom settled in Ireland.
Goldman – Derived from German meaning “gold man,” a surname associated with Jewish immigrants to Ireland.
Goldsmith – Reflecting the trade of goldsmithing, a surname tied to Jewish families in Ireland.
Goldstein – Meaning “gold stone,” a common surname among Jewish immigrants, reflecting European origins.
Green – Often an anglicization of the Jewish surname Grun or Grunwald, meaning “green” or “green forest,” adopted by Jewish-Irish families.
Halpern – Derived from the town of Heilbronn in Germany, a surname linked to Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Harris – An anglicized form of the Hebrew name Tzvi or Zvi, meaning “deer,” commonly found among Jewish-Irish families.
Hochman – Meaning “wise man” in Yiddish, often used by Jewish immigrants who settled in Ireland.
Horowitz – A prominent Ashkenazi Jewish surname originally from Horovice in the Czech Republic, linked to Jewish families in Ireland.
Isaacs – Derived from the Hebrew “Yitzhak,” meaning “he will laugh,” found among Jewish communities in Ireland.
Isaacson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Isaac,” a name rooted in Hebrew heritage found among Irish Jewish families.
Jacobs – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Jacob,” a name rooted in the Hebrew Bible and carried by Jewish families in Ireland.
Jacoby – A variation of Jacob, meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew, carried by Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Kahn – A variant of Cohen, meaning “priest,” tied to Jewish families of priestly descent in Ireland.
Kaplan – Meaning “chaplain” in German and Yiddish, a surname carried by Jewish families in Ireland.
Katz – An acronym for Kohen Tzedek, meaning “righteous priest,” a name borne by Jewish families in Ireland.
Kaufman – Meaning “merchant” in German, a surname adopted by Jewish families who lived in Ireland.
Leibowitz – Derived from the Yiddish name “Leib,” meaning lion, commonly found among Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Levy – A traditional Jewish name derived from the Hebrew “Levi,” one of the twelve tribes of Israel, often found among Jewish families in Ireland.
Lieberman – Meaning “beloved man” in German, carried by Jewish immigrants to Ireland.
Liebman – Derived from the Yiddish word for “beloved man,” a surname adopted by Jewish families in Ireland.
Marks – Derived from Marcus, a Latin and Hebrew name meaning “polite” or “warlike,” found among Jewish Irish families.
Moses – Derived from the Biblical figure Moses, meaning “drawn out of water,” often used by Jewish immigrants to Ireland.
Newman – An anglicization of the Jewish name Neumann, meaning “new man,” used by Irish Jewish families.
Oppenheimer – From the town of Oppenheim in Germany, a name carried by Jewish families in Ireland.
Perlman – Meaning “pearl man,” referring to someone in the jewelry trade, adopted by Jewish families in Ireland.
Rabinowitz – Meaning “son of the rabbi,” a surname reflecting Jewish heritage among families in Ireland.
Rosen – Meaning “rose” in German, often used by Jewish families and later adopted by Jewish immigrants in Ireland.
Rosenthal – Meaning “rose valley” in German, a common Jewish surname in Ireland.
Rosner – Derived from “rose grower” in German, a Jewish surname found among Irish Jewish families.
Roth – Meaning “red” in German, a surname tied to Jewish families, including some who settled in Ireland.
Rothstein – Meaning “red stone” in German, often linked to Jewish families with roots in Ireland.
Samuels – Derived from the Hebrew name Samuel, meaning “heard by God,” a popular name among Jewish families in Ireland.
Schneider – Meaning “tailor” in German, a surname used by Jewish families with roots in Ireland.
Schulman – Meaning “man of the school,” often referring to a scholar, a surname linked to Jewish-Irish heritage.
Schwartz – Meaning “black” in German, common among Jewish families in Ireland with European roots.
Shapiro – Derived from the town of Shpira (Speyer) in Germany, a common Jewish surname carried into Ireland.
Wolf – A surname derived from the Hebrew name Ze’ev, meaning “wolf,” adopted by Jewish families in Ireland.
Zelman – A Yiddish surname derived from Solomon, meaning “peace,” commonly found among Jewish-Irish families.
Zucker – Meaning “sugar” in German, reflecting Jewish trade associations, adopted by Jewish families in Ireland.
Find Out More About Irish Jewish Surnames
What are some examples of Irish Jewish surnames and their origins?
Examples of Irish Jewish surnames include Levy, meaning “joined” or “priestly,” and Cohen, meaning “priest.” Names like Abrams and Isaacs reflect Biblical origins, while surnames such as Bloom and Goldberg are tied to Ashkenazi traditions. These names were brought to Ireland by Jewish families fleeing persecution in Europe.
How did Jewish families integrate their naming traditions with Irish culture?
Jewish families in Ireland maintained their traditional surnames while adopting anglicized spellings to blend with Irish society. For example, Levy and Cohen remained unchanged, but names like Bloom gained prominence in Irish literary culture, as seen in James Joyce’s Ulysses. This integration reflected a balance between preserving Jewish identity and adapting to local norms.
Are there surnames unique to the Jewish community in Ireland?
While most Irish Jewish surnames have international origins, some became uniquely associated with Ireland due to long-term settlement. For example, Shillman and Weinberger were carried by Irish Jewish families and are less common in other regions. Additionally, names like Bloom gained cultural significance in Ireland.
What historical events brought Jewish families to Ireland?
Jewish families began arriving in Ireland in the 17th century, seeking refuge from European persecution. The largest wave came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during pogroms in Eastern Europe. Ireland’s relatively welcoming environment allowed these families to settle, particularly in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast.
How have Irish Jewish surnames evolved over the centuries?
Irish Jewish surnames have evolved through anglicization and cultural integration. Names like Weinstein became simplified to “Wine,” and Goldman remained unchanged but blended into Irish society. Over time, these surnames maintained their Jewish heritage while becoming part of Ireland’s multicultural identity.
