Surname Elshtein - Meaning and Origin
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Elshtein: What does the surname Elshtein mean?
The last name Elshtein is a Jewish Ashkenazi surname, derived from the Yiddish expression "elk bee" meaning "a good spot", and referring to someone who had a good piece of land. It is the most prevalent surname in Israel and is found mainly among members of the Orthodox Jewish community.
The Elshtein surname is derived from the Hebrew name Elohim, used in the Jewish prayer known as the Shema. This prayer is recited by observant Jews twice a day and it acknowledges the presence of the divine as the one and only true God.
The name Elshtein also has a family history in Lithuania. It was a prominent Jewish surname in the towns of Vilna, Novagrodek, and Minsk where many Jewish families originated from. There may even be a connection between the Elshtein surname and a prominent Lithuanian rabbi and Kabbalist, Yosef ben ElNBashan, who was in the 18th century.
The surname is also associated with the practice of tzedakah, a Hebrew word meaning righteousness and charity. It is seen as an important religious obligation in Judaism, which is why it is often attributed to many Jewish families.
The Elshtein surname is an important part of Jewish history and culture, with centuries-old roots in Lithuania and a strong association with the values of tzedakah.
Order DNA origin analysisElshtein: Where does the name Elshtein come from?
The surname Elshtein is relatively uncommon today, particularly outside of its original homeland of Russia and nearby countries. In Russia, Elshtein is concentrated most heavily in the regions of Moscow, Orel (in western Russia), and the Ugra region (in the central part of the country). Beyond Russia, it is most commonly found among Jews who have emigrated from Russia to other countries around the world in the last century or so. For example, Elshtein is considered the ninth-most-common Russian surname among Americans with Russian Jewish ancestry, according to the 2011 MyHeritage survey of family names.
Elshtein is also a fairly common surname among modern Russian speakers living outside of the original homeland. The number of Elshteins living in the United States, for example, is estimated to be between 5,500 and 10,000 people, according to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau. Elshtein is also found in Israel and countries throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania.
The origin of the Elshtein surname is steeped in Jewish history, as its roots can be traced back to the first Elshtein families who settled in what is now Russia hundreds of years ago. Its name itself is thought to originate from the Hebrew word for a “heights” or “a mountain ridge”, and it can also refer to a settlement near the White or Ural mountains.
Variations of the surname Elshtein
The surname Elshtein (or Elshteyn) is a Russian Jewish surname, of German-Jewish origin. It has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The variants of the surname include Elshtejn, Elshtein, Elshten, Elshtien, Elshtayn, Elshtyn, Elshtyn, Elshtene, Elshtyne, Elshteyn, Elshtein, Elshtaync.
The spellings of the surname include El'shtein, Elshtein, Elshteyn, Elshtien, Elshten, and Elshtyn.
The surnames of the same origin as Elshtein include Elshtayn, Elshtyn, Elshtyne, Elshtene, and Elshtaync.
The variation of forms and spellings might have been caused by variations in dialects, phonetic spelling mistakes, translation errors, or intentional spelling changes by the original recorder. These variants are often found in historical records prior to the widespread use of standardized spellings.
Moreover, many descendants of the Elshtein surname might have anglicized their name since immigrating to western countries. This includes variations such as Elstein, Elsten, or Elstin, which may also appear in some records.
Famous people with the name Elshtein
- Anatoly Elshtein: Soviet-born literary scholar and critic.
- Dmitry Elshtein: Russian journalist, editor and screenwriter.
- Georgy Elshtein: Correspondent of the Central Agency of the New York Times in Moscow.
- Igor Elshtein: Russian composer, musician and author.
- Lev Elshtein: Soviet engineer and one of the founders of the Soviet hydroelectric power industry.
- Mark Elshtein: Soviet-born Russian-language poet, translator and academic.
- Mikhail Elshtein: Russian mathematician who developed the first system of computer mathematics in Moscow.
- Sergey Elshtein: Russian-American conductor, instrumentalist and musicologist.
- Vladimir Elshtein: Soviet science fiction writer and author of novel "Distant Suns".
- Yevgeny Elshtein: Soviet actor, theater director and choreographer.