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Names

The Real Reasons American Jews Changed Their Last Names

And did so more than Gentiles with foreign-sounding names.

Kirsten Fermaglich
Oct. 29 2018 12:01AM

The Unique and Complex Origins of Italian Jews

As told by their surnames.

Alexander Beider
Aug. 20 2018 12:01AM

What Ancient Tablets Reveal about Jews in Babylonian Exile

Telltale names and positions at court.

Laurie Pearce
July 26 2018 12:01AM

Why Traditional Jewish Women’s Names Don’t Derive from Hebrew

Blame the Bible.

Alexander Beider
June 5 2018 12:01AM

The Myth of the Ellis Island Name Change

Jews, and others, changed their names voluntarily.

Kirsten Fermaglich
May 29 2018 12:01AM

Why Many Russian Jewish Surnames Derive from the Names of Women

Sorkin, Dvorkin, Rivkin . . .

Alexander Beider
Feb. 26 2018 12:01AM

The Theory That Ashkenazi Jews Are Descended from Khazars Is Junk Science

History, genetics, and linguistics agree.

Alexander Beider
Sept. 26 2017 12:01AM

The Variety and Universality of Nicknames

Different languages employ different methods of generating nicknames, but they all satisfy the same two needs: to show special affection and to demonstrate special intimacy.

Philologos
Jan. 5 2017 12:01AM