Skip to website content >

KAHANA Origin of surname

KAHANA, KOHANA, CAHANA, COHANA

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from lineage (priestly, Levite, convert).

Kahana and Kohana are variants of Cohen/Kohen, the Hebrew for "priest", and also the name of several Babylonian Amoraim ("Jewish scholars"). The oldest and probably the most common Jewish family name in existence, Cohen indicates descent from the biblical priestly family, Cohanim. According to tradition, the Cohanim are descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. The Cohanim performed consecrated duties in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE and still have certain duties and prerogatives in religious life.

A great many variants of the name are documented all over the world. In many cases Cohen was transformed into vernacular-sounding names. This enabled Jews in the Diaspora both to maintain their Jewish tradition, as well as to become part of their host society. Among the forms frequent in the Mediterranean region are Kahin, Al-Kuhen, El-Kohen, Kouihen, Choen, Xohen and Cof(f)en. Variants documented in Europe include: Cowen and Cowan (England); Cohn, Conn, Kahn, Kohn(e) and Kohner (Germany and Austria); Cahn, Cahen, Cahon, Caen and Cain (France); Coen (Italy); Cahan, Cahona, Kahana, Kahano, Kahane, Kon, Koihen, Kagan, Kogan, Kaplan, Kohnowsky, Koganovitch, Kahanow, Kahansky, Konstamm (Eastern Europe).

Cohan, Cohane, Cohne, Cone, Coon, Kan and Koon are recorded in the United States.

The old title Kohen Tzedek, meaning in Hebrew "authentic priest" (a more accurate translation than the more common term "righteous priest"), indicated authentic lineage. It was abbreviated to Katz, literally "cat" an animal name, in Yiddish and German, and became the source of numerous family names. Cohanim/Cohens who had broken one of the sacred laws or special rules applying to them were sometimes known as Halal and no longer called Cohen. Some took different family names, among them the North African Bettan and Ben Kessous.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kahana include the 18th century Galician-born Russian rabbi and author Abraham Aryeh Kahana and the Russian scholar David Kahana (1838-1915) also known as Kohn.

Nahman Kahana (1861-1904), rabbi of the Spinka Hassidic dynasty, he was the son-in-law of Joseph Meir Weiss, and served as rabbi in Szaplonca (Sapanta, also called Spinka, in Yiddish), Hungary (then part of Austria-Hungary, now in Romania). His reputation is founded on his "Orhot Hayyim" first published in 1898, which is a compilation of halachot from the "Shulhan Arukh" code of Jewish Law and which for a long time was regarded as an indispensable reference work for every rabbi. His work included the important explanations of Shalom Mordecai ha-Kohen Schwadron and Elijah David Rabinowitz-Teomim. Kahana made use of more than 800 works of responsa assembling the material logically in a clear style. In the new 1962 edition explanations from the author's private copy and those of Solomon Zalman Ehenreich, Ephraim Weinberger were added. He also arranged the publication of the "Divrei Ge'onim" (1901) of his father, Hayyim Aryeh ha-Kohen, and of the "Likkutei Torah ve-ha-Shas" on Deuteronomy (1892) by Isaac Eichenstein of Zhidachov.

ANU Databases
Jewish Genealogy
Family Names
Jewish Communities
Visual Documentation
Jewish Music Center
Family Name
אA
אA
אA
KAHANA Origin of surname
KAHANA, KOHANA, CAHANA, COHANA

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from lineage (priestly, Levite, convert).

Kahana and Kohana are variants of Cohen/Kohen, the Hebrew for "priest", and also the name of several Babylonian Amoraim ("Jewish scholars"). The oldest and probably the most common Jewish family name in existence, Cohen indicates descent from the biblical priestly family, Cohanim. According to tradition, the Cohanim are descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. The Cohanim performed consecrated duties in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE and still have certain duties and prerogatives in religious life.

A great many variants of the name are documented all over the world. In many cases Cohen was transformed into vernacular-sounding names. This enabled Jews in the Diaspora both to maintain their Jewish tradition, as well as to become part of their host society. Among the forms frequent in the Mediterranean region are Kahin, Al-Kuhen, El-Kohen, Kouihen, Choen, Xohen and Cof(f)en. Variants documented in Europe include: Cowen and Cowan (England); Cohn, Conn, Kahn, Kohn(e) and Kohner (Germany and Austria); Cahn, Cahen, Cahon, Caen and Cain (France); Coen (Italy); Cahan, Cahona, Kahana, Kahano, Kahane, Kon, Koihen, Kagan, Kogan, Kaplan, Kohnowsky, Koganovitch, Kahanow, Kahansky, Konstamm (Eastern Europe).

Cohan, Cohane, Cohne, Cone, Coon, Kan and Koon are recorded in the United States.

The old title Kohen Tzedek, meaning in Hebrew "authentic priest" (a more accurate translation than the more common term "righteous priest"), indicated authentic lineage. It was abbreviated to Katz, literally "cat" an animal name, in Yiddish and German, and became the source of numerous family names. Cohanim/Cohens who had broken one of the sacred laws or special rules applying to them were sometimes known as Halal and no longer called Cohen. Some took different family names, among them the North African Bettan and Ben Kessous.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kahana include the 18th century Galician-born Russian rabbi and author Abraham Aryeh Kahana and the Russian scholar David Kahana (1838-1915) also known as Kohn.
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Nahman Kahana

Nahman Kahana (1861-1904), rabbi of the Spinka Hassidic dynasty, he was the son-in-law of Joseph Meir Weiss, and served as rabbi in Szaplonca (Sapanta, also called Spinka, in Yiddish), Hungary (then part of Austria-Hungary, now in Romania). His reputation is founded on his "Orhot Hayyim" first published in 1898, which is a compilation of halachot from the "Shulhan Arukh" code of Jewish Law and which for a long time was regarded as an indispensable reference work for every rabbi. His work included the important explanations of Shalom Mordecai ha-Kohen Schwadron and Elijah David Rabinowitz-Teomim. Kahana made use of more than 800 works of responsa assembling the material logically in a clear style. In the new 1962 edition explanations from the author's private copy and those of Solomon Zalman Ehenreich, Ephraim Weinberger were added. He also arranged the publication of the "Divrei Ge'onim" (1901) of his father, Hayyim Aryeh ha-Kohen, and of the "Likkutei Torah ve-ha-Shas" on Deuteronomy (1892) by Isaac Eichenstein of Zhidachov.