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German Jewish Surnames - Their Meanings

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Fun Trivia : Quizzes : Names : German Jewish Surnames - Their Meanings

Introduction:
"Some of these names may sound familiar, some may be unusual, but they all have a story to tell."


1. Before the early 1800s, most German Jews (as well as Jews in other parts of Europe) did not have formal surnames. What event forced many Jews into choosing last names?
    A change in religious law
    An edict from the Pope
    Napoleon's administration of captured territories
    A draft law in Germany and other countries


2. One type of German Jewish surname is a personal descriptive name. What is the meaning of the descriptive name Klein?
    Small
    Short
    Tall
    Large


3. Some names are not descriptive but ornamental, describing something pleasant or fanciful. What is the meaning of the name Rothstein?
    Red mug
    Red earth
    Red stone
    Large stone


4. Biblical first names may occur in German Jewish names. For example, what biblical first name is the origin of the surname Rubin?
    Benjamin
    Reuven
    Rivka
    Ruth


5. Sometimes, a German surname would become changed when a person came to another country, like the United States. What would have been the original German form of the name Needleman?
    Nadelman
    Stitcherman
    Noodleman
    Nydleman


6. One common German Jewish name, Katz, is actually formed from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase. What does this phrase mean?
    Righteous man
    Righteous priest
    Son of Israel
    Torah scholar


7. One of the longer and more unusual German Jewish names is the name Ellenbogen. What is the meaning of this name?
    Eastward
    Ellen's son
    Elbow
    Long bone


8. Here are two German Jewish names, Gelber and Geller, with similar meanings. What is the common German origin for these two names?
    Black
    White
    Merchants
    Yellow


9. Another origin of German Jewish names are cities or regions where the person came from. For example, what city is the place of origin for people with the name Shapiro?
    Sonneberg
    Sandau
    Speyer
    Singen


10. The last letter of the German alphabet, z, is represented by such German Jewish names as Zimmerman and Zucker. What do these two names have in common?
    They both describe occupations
    They have their origins in places
    They both describe personal characteristics
    They are both religious names


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