101 Most Common Surnames in Israel (in 2016)

Names, , , , ,

I’ve been posting the 101 most common Israeli given names for both boys and girls for the last few years, as the data has been released by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Recently the data for 2016 was released, and I posted the lists for girls and boys. While going through the data, however, I noticed something I had not noticed in previous years – a link to information on Israeli surnames.

The data consists of over 50,000 surnames, and the number of people with that name in Israel. The smallest number of people with a name is 9, so the least common surnames do not appear (including mine – I guess I need a few more kids to break through, or get my cousins to make aliyah). In theory this data is current as of 2016, although I suspect the top 101 names out of over 50,000 probably don’t change significantly from year to year.

Something significant worth noting is that the list is only in Hebrew, and like any other government data, has no nikudot (diacritical marks used as vowels in Hebrew), so many times names that would be considered different in English are spelled the same in Hebrew.

Sometimes those names have a common origin, such as פלד which could be Feld or Peled. Peled is actually a Hebraization of Feld, so that’s not such a big deal, although many times changes in spelling are useful in genealogy research in detecting different branches of the same family. Sometimes the same family uses different spellings, but many times different families used the same spelling for many years, and this merging of names can be frustrating when researching one’s family history. Consider the most common name כהן which in English could be spelled Cohen, Kohen, Cohain, Cohn, Kohn, Cahan, etc.

When I publish my lists of given names, I add nikudot to the names, since even those fluent in Hebrew might not be able to decipher the name if they’re not familiar with it. Reading without nikudot requires some familiarity with the words you’re reading. If the name is not familiar, it’s not possible in some cases to figure it out. Some given names also use the same spelling, such as אורי which can be Uri or Ori. The problem is significantly worse for surnames, however, where many more variations exist.

As officially names in Israel are written without nikudot, it creates a genealogical problem that documents with names don’t actually reflect what a person called themselves. If you are researching someone whose name is recorded as אורי פלד, is their name Ori Peled, Uri Feld, Ori Feld, or Uri Peled? That’s not a problem I can solve, but what I’ve done with the following list of the 101 most common Jewish Israeli surnames is added nikudot for one common pronunciation, added a few possible English spellings, and linked to all the surname articles at Beit Hatfutsot (in English this was formerly called the Diaspora Museum, but is now called the Museum of the Jewish People) that are for names that use the Hebrew spelling, as well as the English versions of those articles.

HebrewEnglishBH HebrewBH English#
1כֹּהֵןCohen,
Kohen		כהן, קוהן-כהןCohen, Kohen180,652
2לֵוִיLevy,
Levi		לוי, לוי, לוי, לוי, לוי, לויLewy, Levi, Levie, Lewj, Levee, Levey104,288
3מִזְרָחִיMizrachiמזרחיMizrahi30,204
4פֶּרֶץPeretzפרץ, פרץ, פרץPeretz, Perez, Perec29,605
5בִּיטוֹןBitonביטוןBiton27,839
6דֹּהַןDohanדהן, דהןDahan, Dehan20,817
7אַבְרָהָםAvraham,
Abraham		אברהם, אברהם, אברהםAbrahm, Abraham, Abrahame19,961
8פְּרִידָמָןFriedmanפרידמן, פרידמן, פרידמן, פרידמן, פרדמןFridman, Friedman, Freedman, Friedmann, Freadman18,975
9אָזוּלַאיAzoulaiאסולאיAssoulay17,972
10מַלְכָּהMalkaמלכה, מלכה, מלכה-מלכא, מלכה-מלכאMalkah, Melca, Malca, Malka17,811
11כָּץKatzכץ, כץ, כץ, כץCats, Kats, Kac, Kaz16,722
12דָּוִדDavidדודDawed15,335
13אוֹחִיוָןOhayonאוחיוןOhayon15,136
14חָדָדHadadחדדHaddad15,020
15עַמַרAmarעמר-אמארAmar14,984
16גַּבַּאיGabbaiגבאי, גבאי, גבאי-גואבאי Gabbai , Gabbay, Guabay14,867
17יוֹסֵףYosef,
Joseph		יוסף, יוסף, יוסף, יוסףYosef, Joseph, Yuseph, Josef13,775
18בֵּן דָּוִדBen Davidבן-דוד, בן-דודBendavid, Ben-David13,712
19אֶדְרִיEdriאדריEdery12,952
20קָלִייןKleinקליין, קליין, קליין, קליין, קליין, קליין, קליין, קליין, קליין-קלאיןKline, Klein, Kleyn, Klyne, Cline, Klajn, Klayn, Clein, Klain12,359
21חֵןChenחןChen12,066
22טַלTalטל, טלTall, Tal11,974
23לֵוִיןLevineלוין, לוין, לוין, לוין, לוין, לוין, לאויןLhevinne, Levyne, Lewin, Leveen, Levene, Lewine11,824
24שְׁפִירָאShapira,
Spira		שפירא, שפירא, שפירא, שפירא, שפראSchapira, Szapira, Spira, Shapira, Schapera11,747
25חַזָּןHazanחזן, חזן, חזן, חזן, חזן, חזןChazen, Chazan, Hazan, Hazane, Khazan, Hazzan11,574
26מֹשֶׁהMosheמשהMoshe11,529
27אוֹחְנָהOhanaאוחנהOuhanna11,371
28גּוֹלָןGolan11,235
29אֲשָׁכְנָזִיAshkenaziאשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנזי, אשכנסי, אשכנסי, אשכנסי, אסכנזיAschenazi, Echkenazi, Eskenazi, Ashkenazi, Asckhenazi, Ashkenazy, Aschkenazy, Aszkenazy, Eschkenazi, Aszkenazi, Aschkenasi, Ashkenasi, Ashkanasi, Asckhenazi11,187
30סֶגַלSegalסגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, סגל, שגל-סגל, שגל, זגלSagall, Segal, Segel, Sagel, Segalle, Segall, Sagall, Segell, Sagal, Szegal, Shagall, Zegal11,177
31יִצְחָקYitzchak,
Isaac		יצחקIzhok10,631
32בָּרBarבר, בר, בר, ברBehr, Barr, Berr, Bear10,356
33יַעֲקֹבYaakov,
Jacob		יעקבJakob10,267
34שָׁלוֹםShalomשלוםShalom10,205
35מוֹרMor10,165
36דַּיָּיןDayanדייןDayan9,954
37אֱלִיָּהוּEliyahuאליהוEliahou9,859
38אָלְבָּזElbazאלבז, אלבזElbaz, Elbaze9,843
39לָבִיאLaviלביא, לביא, לביא, לביאLavi, Labi, Lavee, Lavie9,775
40סוֹיְסָהSuissaסויסה, סואסהSuisa, Suesa9,733
41שֶׁמֶשׁShemeshשמעס-שמש, שמש-שמעסSchammes, Shames-Schames-Shemesh9,581
42אָטִיאָסAtiasאטיאס, אטיאס, אטיאס, אטיאס, אטיאזAthyas, Atias, Athias, Attias, Attiaz9,429
43שָׁטֶרְןSternשטרן, שטרן, שטרן-סטרןSztern, Shtern, Stern9,339
44נָחוּםNachumנחום, נחום, נחוםNahum, Nahoum, Nachum9,298
45אַלּוֹןAlonאלון, אלוןElon, Allon9,160
46רוֹזֵנְבֶּרְגRosenbergרוזנברג, רוזנברג, רוזינברג, רויזנברג, רוזמברגRozenberg, Rosenberg, Rosinberg, Roisenberg, Rozemberg9,155
47שׁרעבִיSharabiשרעביSharabi9,100
48מָמָןMamanממן, ממן, ממן, ממןMamman, Mamaine, Maman, Mamane8,982
49שָׂשׂוֹןSassonששון, ששוןSassoun, Sassoon8,822
50בָּכָרBacharבכר, בכר-באכרBecher, Bacher8,818
51שָׁחָרShahar8,792
52מִימוֹןMaimonמימון, מימון, מיימון, מיימון, בן-מיימוןMeimoun, Maymun, Maymon, Maimon, Ben-Maimon8,720
53שורץSchwartz (see #80)8,715
54עוֹבַדְיָהOvadiaעובדיה, עובדיה, עבדיהOvadya, Ovadia, Obadia8,674
55בֵּן חָמוֹBen Hemoבן-חמו, בן-חמו, בן-חמו, בן-חמו, בנמו-בן-חמוBen-Hamou, Benhamou, Ben-Hamo, Benhamo, Benamou8,659
56וַקְנִיןVakninוקנין, אוקניןWaknin, Oknine8,646
57אֲסוֹלִיןAssoulineאסוליןAsulin8,631
58מֵאִירMeirמאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאיר, מאירMayr, Maijer, Maeir, Meier, Meyr, Miyir, Mejer, Maier, Meyer, Meir, Meijer, Majer, Mair8,382
59גְּרִינָבֶּרְגGreenbergגרינברג, גרינברג, גרינברג, גרינברגר, גרימברגGreenberg, Grynberg, Grinberg, Grinberger, Grimberg8,206
60גּוֹלְדָּשְׁטַיְיןGoldsteinגולדשטיין, גולדשטיין, גולדשטיין, גולדשטיין, גולדשטיין, גולדשטיין, גולדסטיין, גולדסטיוGoldsztajn, Goldstain, Goldstejn, Goldstein, Goldsztejn, Goldsztein, Goldstine, Goldsteen8,073
61וַיְיסWeissוייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייס, וייסהVais, Vajs, Waisz, Wais, Waiss, Weihs, Weisz, Veis, Weiss, Weis, Weisse8,064
62בָּרוּךBaruchברוך, ברוך, ברוך, ברוך, ברוך, ברו-ברוךBeruch, Baruch, Baroch, Baruj, Barukh, Barouh8,034
63אֲמְסָלָםAmsalemאמסלם, אמסלם, אמסלם, אמסלם, אמסלם, אמסלם, אמסל, אנסלמהAmselem, Emsellem, Emsalem, Amsalem, Amsellam, Amsallam, Amsel, Anselme7,942
64רוּבִּיןRubinרובין, רובין, רובין, רובין, רובין-רוויןRobbin, Roubin, Roubine, Rubin, Ruvin7,725
65פְּלְדָמָןFeldmanפלדמן, פלדמן, פילדמןFeldman, Feldmann, Fealdman7,721
66עֶזְרָאEzraעזראEzra7,651
67הַרְאֵלHarel7,586
68יִפְרָחYifrahיפרחYifrah7,566
69סָבָגSabagסבג, אסבג, שבוךSabag, Essebagh, Shebokh7,519
70קָדוֹשׁKadoshקדוש, קדוש, קדוש, קדוש, קדושKadosh, Kadoch, Cadoch, Kaddouch, Qadosh7,434
71גּוֹלְדבֶּרְגGoldbergגולדברגGoldberg7,365
72חַיִּיםHaimחיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, חיים, היים-חייםChaim, Hayym, Chajjim, Chaym, Haym, Cheim, Chajm, Hyam, Hayyim, Haim, Heim7,284
73רָזRaz7,196
74קוֹרֵןKorenקורן, קורן, קורן, קוהרן-קורןKoren, Korn, Korene, Kohrn7,078
75שָׁרוֹןSharon6,954
76צוּרTzurצור, צורZurr, Zur6,920
77יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrael,
Israel		ישראל, ישראל, ישראל, ישראלYcrael, Isrel, Ysrael, Israel6,830
78רְבִינוֹבִיץRabinowitzרבינוביץ, רבינוביץ, רבינוביץ, רובינוביץRabinowitz, Rabinovitz, Rabbinowitz, Robinowitz6,805
79סוֹפֵרSoferסופר, סופר, סופר, סופרSofer, Sopher, Soffer, Sauphar6,708
80שׁוֹוְרָץSchwartz (see #53)שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ, שוורץ-סוורקSchvarcz, Schwarc, Schwarz, Shwarz, Shwartz, Schwartz, Svarz, Schvartz, Schwarcz, , Szwarc, Swartz, Svarc6,705
81יִצְחָקִיYitzhakiיצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקי, יצחקיItzchaki, Itzchaky, Yizhaki, Yitzchak, Yitzchaki, Izhaki, Yitschaki, Yitzchaky, Izchaki6,672
82דָּדוֹןDadonדדון, דודוןDadoun, Dudun6,645
83אַבְרָמוֹבAbramovאברמובAbramov6,592
84יִשְׂרָאֵליYisraeli,
Israeli		ישראלי, ישראלי, ישראליIsreeli, Israeli, Israely6,542
85דָּנִיֵּאלDanielדניאלDaniel6,511
86אַהֲרוֹנִיAharoniאהרוני, אהרוניAaroni, Aharoni6,502
87לֵבLev6,422
88שׁוֹשָׁןShoshanשושן, שושן, שושן, שושן-סוסןShushan, Chouchen, Soussan, Susan6,366
89רַחֲמִיםRachamim6,335
90מִילָרMillerמילר, מילר-מיילרMiller, Myller6,322
91יְחֶזְקֵאָלYechezkel6,286
92הָרוֹשׁHaroshהרוש, הרוש, הרוש, הרוש, הרוש, הרוש, הרוס-הרושHaroch, Harosh, Harouch, Harouche, Harrosh, Harrouch, Harrous6,281
93אוֹרֶןOrenאורןOren6,259
94בָּרָקBarakברק, ברק, ברק, ברק, ברקBerk, Barak, Barack, Berek, Berc6,192
95קַפְּלָןKaplanקפלן, קפלן, קפלין, קפלוןKaplan, Caplan, Caplin, Kaplun6,141
96רוֹזֵןRosenרוזן, רוזןRosenne, Rosen6,005
97סוֹלוֹמוֹןSolomonסולומון, סולומון, סולומון, סולומוןSaulomon, Saulmon, Solomon, Sollomon5,999
98דּוֹיְדּוֹבDavidovדוידוב, דוידובDavidow, Davidov5,998
99בִּנְיָמִיןBinyaminבנימין, בנימין, בנימיןBenyamine, Binyamin, Benjamin5,986
100גְּרוֹסGrossגרוס, גרוסGrosz, Gross5,946
101הֲרְשָׁקוֹבִיץHershkowitzהרשקוביץ, הרשקוביץ, הרשקוביץ, הרשקוביץ, הרסקוביץHershkobitz, Hershkowitz, Herszkovicz, Herschkovitch, Herskowic5,909

21 thoughts on “101 Most Common Surnames in Israel (in 2016)”

  2. Even though it’s not spelt the same Grünberg means the same as Greenberg. My family used both depending on the country they were in. I’m sure you’ve come across it frequently. It’s easier searching in Hebrew imho, you don’t have to worry about variations from פ/פּּ,
    Or can use
    צ = for C, ts, S, and z. Many names have six plus spellings in English, so it’s less work in Hebrew imho.

    I wonder if Shapira is the female version of Shapiro, as in women would get the Shapira, etc. I know this was a former naming convention.

    Reply

    1. Very few surnames are specifically Jewish, and even those whose origins are Jewish doesn’t mean that anyone who has that name is Jewish. There are non-Jewish Cohens for example. The origin of Brandenburg as a surname probably comes from the German state of Brandenburg, whose capital was Berlin. There very well may be Jews with this name, but there are many others with the name who have no Jewish roots, just roots from that region.

      Reply

    1. The spelling פניה shows up only 41 times in the list (as opposed to let’s say Cohen which shows up 180652 times). The spelling וסקז shows up 46 times. Those are the only spellings out of those above that I found. I’m not sure what that means, however. It’s certainly possible there were more people with those last names in the past, and they changed their names (Hebraicized) as many immigrants have done in the past. For example, there are 749 people with the name צוק which could be considered a translation of Peña. Of course, names were not always translated. Sometimes names of similar sound were used instead, in which case many names are possible.

      Reply

  5. Thank you for this information – I would love to know if Singleton was an anglicised name for something else please if anyone has any information? I have seen Singleton in a list of possible Jewish surnames. Thank you

    Reply

    1. As I’ve said above it’s very hard to say a specific name is Jewish or not. Sometimes names were Anglicized, or in the case of Israel Hebraicized. I can’t be sure what the spelling of Singleton would be in Hebrew, but I would guess סינגלטון and it doesn’t show up in the full list. This list is just a list of Jewish surname in Israel, however, so that doesn’t mean there are not Jewish Singletons in other countries. It seems from a quick search online that there have been Jewish Singletons, but clearly the name itself is not an indication of being Jewish.

      Reply

    1. Yes, there are Jews with that surname, from many places. I’d recommend two places to search. First, I would check out the JewishGen FamilyFinder (JGFF) which will allow you to find others researching that name. You need to register on JewishGen to search it, but registration is free. See my article on the JGFF. Also, check out Avotaynu’s Consolidated Jewish Surname Index. It will give you other resources to check out where the surname shows up.

      Reply

      1. We could be, Eylon. My (Jewish) ancestors stem from Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Just emailed you.

    1. I’m not sure how that would be spelled in Hebrew, but I didn’t see anything that matched what I would guess. There is Diri (דירי), Dirlik (דירליק), and Deriks (דריקז/דריקס).

      Reply

  9. My ancestors were Coyne and I was told that was an Irish surname from County Mayo..thing is, on trying to claim Irish nationality to keep my European identity after Brexit, I am struggling to find any further details, but as my grandmother worked as a typist for Churchill during the war she can’t have been an Irish national and I am also told it can be a Jewish surname?
    My other grandmother was a Codner which can be either a Devon surname ( where we live) or Ashkenazi.
    My mother informed me she was asked to produce a family tree when she married my dad, to prove she was British as they thought she was rather dark skinned. And for fu,my British parents spoke German to each other at home when I was small, so I couldn’t understand them. Does any of this resonate with anyone else, or is it just my family?

    Reply

    1. What does your mother know about her ancestors? Putting together a family tree is the first step. Next you should try to add as much documentation to your tree as possible. You can also do a DNA test, which may or may not point you specifically to relatives, but might provide information on whether you have Irish or Jewish ancestors. Definitely test the oldest family members you can. If you haven’t built a tree yet, you might find the forms on this site (https://bloodandfrogs.com/forms) helpful in getting started.

      Reply

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