MARCUS Origin of surname
MARCUS
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 a Gentile or vernacular personal name.
Many Jewish personal and family names have their origin in the Roman name Marcus. Marcus, which in Latin means "belonging to Mars" (the Roman god of war), became widespread among Jews following the Roman conquest of the Near East, particularly in the talmudic period (the first five centuries of the Common Era). A very early example is that of Markah. According to Jewish legend, it has the same numerical value as the Hebrew Moshe (in English, Moses), which no other human being was allowed to bear. But actually, it is an Aramaized form of the Latin name Marcus. Markah was the name of a well-known 4th century Samaritan poet, venerated as the "fountain of wisdom", who wrote in Aramaic. According to one expert, this name, as exemplified by some of its variants, could also come from the Hebrew Mar Kushi ("dark gentleman/Mr. Black"). In the Diaspora, Marcus and its different forms were frequently used as 'kinnui'm ("secular names") for the Hebrew Moses, Mordechai, Manasse and Menachem, later becoming the basis for family names. The abbreviated French variant Marc is documented in the 13th century in Paris (France); the original Marcus in 16th century Morocco. The 17th century records Marculis in Prague (Bohemia), Markwitz in both Poland and Germany, and the Italian diminutive Marcello. In Eastern Europe, the root syllable was combined with Slavic patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) "-ov"/"-itz"/"-ich"/"-ici" and others; in Germany it formed variants such as Markhoff (which could be a Germanized Russian patronymic); Markwald and Markheim (belonging to the toponymic category of family names appearing to derive from place names); in France it became Marcel and in Romania Marcu. Other variations, which do not always correspond to the countries in which they are found, range from Marks/Marx to Marcous/Markusz; Marcus Marcus/Markus is also an acronym (a name created from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase, and which refers to a relative, lineage or occupation) of the Hebrew 'Morenu Rabbenu Kadosh Ve Zakkai', that is "our holy teacher and Rabbi Zakkai". In Eastern Europe, the root syllable was combined with Slavic patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) -ov/itz/ich/ici and others; in Germany it formed variants such as Markhoff (which could be a Germanized Russian patronymic); Markwald and Markheim (belonging to the category of family names appearing to derive from place names); in France it became Marcel and in Romania Marcu. Other variations, which do not always correspond to the countries in which they are found, range from Marks/Marx to Marcous/Markusz.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Marcus include the German inventor, Siegfried Marcus (1831-1898); the German scholar, writer on kabbalah and hassidism, Aaron Marcus (1843-1916); and David Daniel Marcus (1902-1948), U.S. soldier and commander of the Jewish troops on the Jerusalem front in the Israel War of Independence.
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 a Gentile or vernacular personal name.
Many Jewish personal and family names have their origin in the Roman name Marcus. Marcus, which in Latin means "belonging to Mars" (the Roman god of war), became widespread among Jews following the Roman conquest of the Near East, particularly in the talmudic period (the first five centuries of the Common Era). A very early example is that of Markah. According to Jewish legend, it has the same numerical value as the Hebrew Moshe (in English, Moses), which no other human being was allowed to bear. But actually, it is an Aramaized form of the Latin name Marcus. Markah was the name of a well-known 4th century Samaritan poet, venerated as the "fountain of wisdom", who wrote in Aramaic. According to one expert, this name, as exemplified by some of its variants, could also come from the Hebrew Mar Kushi ("dark gentleman/Mr. Black"). In the Diaspora, Marcus and its different forms were frequently used as 'kinnui'm ("secular names") for the Hebrew Moses, Mordechai, Manasse and Menachem, later becoming the basis for family names. The abbreviated French variant Marc is documented in the 13th century in Paris (France); the original Marcus in 16th century Morocco. The 17th century records Marculis in Prague (Bohemia), Markwitz in both Poland and Germany, and the Italian diminutive Marcello. In Eastern Europe, the root syllable was combined with Slavic patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) "-ov"/"-itz"/"-ich"/"-ici" and others; in Germany it formed variants such as Markhoff (which could be a Germanized Russian patronymic); Markwald and Markheim (belonging to the toponymic category of family names appearing to derive from place names); in France it became Marcel and in Romania Marcu. Other variations, which do not always correspond to the countries in which they are found, range from Marks/Marx to Marcous/Markusz; Marcus Marcus/Markus is also an acronym (a name created from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase, and which refers to a relative, lineage or occupation) of the Hebrew 'Morenu Rabbenu Kadosh Ve Zakkai', that is "our holy teacher and Rabbi Zakkai". In Eastern Europe, the root syllable was combined with Slavic patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) -ov/itz/ich/ici and others; in Germany it formed variants such as Markhoff (which could be a Germanized Russian patronymic); Markwald and Markheim (belonging to the category of family names appearing to derive from place names); in France it became Marcel and in Romania Marcu. Other variations, which do not always correspond to the countries in which they are found, range from Marks/Marx to Marcous/Markusz.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Marcus include the German inventor, Siegfried Marcus (1831-1898); the German scholar, writer on kabbalah and hassidism, Aaron Marcus (1843-1916); and David Daniel Marcus (1902-1948), U.S. soldier and commander of the Jewish troops on the Jerusalem front in the Israel War of Independence.