Surname Rappaport - Meaning and Origin
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Rappaport: What does the surname Rappaport mean?
Rappaport is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It has its roots in the Yiddish language and its primary meaning is "Rabbi's court." The name is an amalgamation of two words, 'Rabbi', meaning "teacher" in Hebrew, and 'Pforte' or 'Porta' which translates to "gate" in German and Latin respectively. So, the name can also signify "gate of the Rabbi" indicating the area or household where a Rabbi resides or conducts teachings. The first occurrence of this surname dates back to the early 15th century in Germany. The name quickly spread across Europe with the Jewish diaspora. Today, it can be found in many countries worldwide with some localized variations in spellings and pronunciation. Notable people with this surname are involved in various professional fields including arts, science, academia, and politics. Rappaport, Rappoport, or Rapoport, despite minor spelling differences, all point to the same historical and cultural origins.
Order DNA origin analysisRappaport: Where does the name Rappaport come from?
The surname Rappaport is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the town of Porto, in northern Italy. Ashkenazi Jewish families, originally from Germany, arrived in Porto in the late 14th century and added the prefix "Rapp," which means "Rabbi of," to their surname to honor their respected rabbinical lineage. The town of Porto was known for its welcoming policy towards Jewish people during the forced diasporas of Jews throughout history.
The spelling of the name has seen variations over time including Rapoport, Rappoport and Rappaport. People with this last name can be found all over the world due to several waves of Jewish emigration. The Holocaust brought many Ashkenazi Jews to America, leading to a rise in the number of Rappaports in the United States. Today, this surname can be most commonly found in US, Israel, and throughout Europe. It is a fairly common Jewish surname and is often associated with a rich rabbinic history.
Variations of the surname Rappaport
Rappaport is a Jewish Ashkenazi surname. It has various spellings based on regional adaptation and varied transliteration from its original forms, which are believed to have originated from the Jewish communities in Portugal or Italy. Variants and spellings of the surname include Rapa, Rapo, Rappe, Rappo, Rapport, Raper, Rapaport, Rapoport, and Rappa. Spellings like Rapoport and Rappoport are especially common among Eastern European Jews.
The surname Rappaport indicates someone with Portuguese roots as the name means "Rabbi of Porto". Some sources suggest that Jews bearing this name are descendants of the respected Rabbi Menahem Azariah de Fano of Porto, Portugal, who lived during the 16th century. The surname then spread as these descendants moved throughout Europe, especially to Germany and Eastern Europe, and later the United States.
This name may have changed spellings multiple times in response to migration, translation, or evolution of the language. As a variation, it may also appear surnames like Rapperport, Raapport, and Rappoport, among others, are predominantly seen in the Russian-speaking Jewish diaspora.
Famous people with the name Rappaport
- David Rappaport: A popular English actor well-known for his roles in Time Bandits, The Brute, and Leviathan.
- Samuel Rappaport: A respected German rabbi and author who wrote on religion and rituals.
- Leora Rappaport: An adept American cellist and pedagogue who has performed and taught all around the world.
- Jacky Rappaport: A comedian and actor based in France, renowned for his role as Reiser in the television show Faut pas rire!
- Arthur Rappaport: An acclaimed British neurologist who wrote an influential book on neurological disorders in the 19th century.
- Marlene Rappaport: A notable American sculptor whose work is in the permanent collections of several prominent museums.
- Rebecca Rappaport: A celebrated American editor and producer of documentaries, most notably as the executive producer of the lauded film Unnatural Causes.
- Cyril Rappaport: A celebrated French architect whose works include the Church of St. Etienne, the Municipal Hall of Maisons-Alfort, and the chapel of Notre Dame.
- Earl Rappaport: An honourable US Army veteran who wrote ‘The Outpost’, a book about his experience serving in Vietnam.
- Lincoln Rappaport: A prominent American business executive and entrepreneur known for his series of businesses in the technology industry.