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WEISSMAN Origin of surname

WEISSMAN

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name.

Weissman is a variant of the German Weissmann, which means "white man".

As a family name derived from a personal nickname it referred to persons with white hair, beard or skin.

As a family name, it could also be a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

As a family name, it could also have associations with towns and cities in central and east European countries, among them Weissenburg/Wissembourg in Alsace, eastern France; Weisweil in Baden, Germany; Stuhlweissenburg/Szekesfehervar in west central Hungary; and Weissenburg/Alba Iulia in Transylvania, central Romania.

Some variants, like Weissbecker (literally "white baker" in German), are names deriving from certain trades and occupations.

Weiss is recorded as a Jewish family name in 1197 in Wuerzburg, Germany, with Samuel Weiss, also known as Albus. Weisswasser is documented in 1678; Weissweiler in 1687; Weisskopf in 1690; Weisweiler in 1700; Weisel and Weiselitz in 1711; Weissweiller in 1743; Weissburg in the 18th century; Weis and Weissenburger in 1808; Weiskopf in 1891; and Waiskof in 1954.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Weissman include the German-born American jurist Fred S. Weissman (1888-1968), co-founder and Secretary General of 'Self-Help', and the 20th century American business executive George Weissman. In the 20th century Weissmanis recorded as a Jewish family name with the Weissman family, who lived in the town of Zhadova (Jadova) near Chernowitz, northern Bukovina (now Ukraine), prior to World War II (1939-1945), and whose entire Jewish community was deported to the death camps in July 1941.

Jacob Weissman (1886-1956), businessman and community activist, leader of the Zionist activists in Egypt and President of the Executive Committee of the World Zionist Organization in Cairo, born in Jerusalem, Israel (then part of the Ottoman Empire).

In his youth his family moved to Jaffa. He studied at the Alliance school, and then at Mikve Israel agricultural school. In 1905 moved to Egypt and worked at the Deutsche Orient Bank in Cairo, first as a clerk and finally as director of executive branch. Some time later he founded a private bank named "Schweitzer Wiseman & Komfani". After World War I he was the director of the oil company "Bilftrol". In 1920 Weissman moved to Alexandria, Egypt, and worked in agriculture, along with his brother Yehuda Weissman and a nephew.

At the same time he became a key activist in the Zionist and Jewish organizations in Egypt. In 1937, Weissman was a delegate to the 20th Zionist Congress held in Zurich, Switzerland. He was president of the executive committee of the World Zionist Organization in Cairo, the Jewish National Fund representative in Egypt, the president of the Committee for the Jewish soldier in Cairo and Vice President of the Chamber Allies in Egypt. During World War II, he was among the founders of "Jewish Soldiers' Club" in Cairo.

Weissman died in Tel Aviv in 1956. His wife was also active in several communal organizations.

Arieh Levanon (born Leon Weissman) (1932-2023) was a composer born in Focsani, Romania. His musical talent was evident when he was only 7 years old when he taught himself to play the harmonica. At the age of 11, he began learning to play the violin, and just a year later, he started composing works. He attended the local Jewish high school and, at the age of 15, he founded a choir there, which he also conducted. In 1947, he joined an amateur orchestra established in his city.

In 1951, he immigrated to Israel with his family, initially living in Pardes Hana, and later in Jaffa. He began studying composition and conducting at the Music Academy and graduated in 1956. In the IDF, he served as an instructor at the Central Command Band, along with Oded Kotler, Alex Peleg, Shaike Levy, and Ili Gorlitsky, among others. In 1957, he composed his first song recorded in Israel, Lo tisaderu et shekamoti ("You will not frame up one like me", with lyrics by Dan Almagor), which was performed by the singer Rachel Kahlani. About two years after being released from the IDF, in 1960, he went to study in Italy for a year and then returned to Israel.

Levanon served as the musical director in the first program of the Bazal Yarok band, which was composed of members of the Nahal band and performed in the late 1950s. He even composed some of the program's songs. He became famous when he won first place in the first singer and chorus festival in 1960 as a composer and arranger with his song Erev Ba ("Evening is Coming", with lyrics by Oded Avisher).

Over the years, he maintained a fruitful composing career that included composing for various shows, Levanon was the first musical director of the Hagashash Hachiver Trio in its first two programs, Simchat Ziknati ("Joy of my Old Age") and Program D. In 1960, he composed the soundtrack for the comedy starring Haim Topol and Ilana Rubina, titled I Like Mike.

Levanon worked extensively with the composer Sasha Argov, for example, in the musical Shlomo Hamelech ve Shlomo Hasandlar ("Shlomo the King and Shlomo the Shoemaker") and in the play Shuk Hametziot ("The Market of Discounts")," both featuring songs by Nathan Alterman. He served as a musical director in several programs of the Nahal band. For many years, Levanon worked for the Song and Chorus Festival. He also conducted the Children's Song Festival, the Mizrahi Song Festival, and more.

In 2012, he composed an extraordinary work called Eretz arba safot ("The Land of Four Languages") for the Israeli piano ensemble Multipiano. For this piece, he delved into the musical sources of the various Israeli denominations and chose four songs that are landmarks in the soundtrack of the State of Israel. The ensemble members performed the piece around the world, including in New York, Beijing, Chicago, Montreal, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. In 2017, the ensemble members and conductor Dmitri Yablonsky recorded the piece with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

Levanon's work was recognized and appreciated over the years, and in 2014, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Drew Weissman (b. 1959), physician and scientist, co-winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, born in Lexington, MA, United States. He received his BA and MA from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, in 1981, specializing in biochemistry and enzymology. He completed his graduate studies at Boston University in immunology and microbiology, earning his doctorate in medicine in 1987.

In 1997, Drew Weissman moved to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He began his research by studying RNA and the biology of the innate immune system. In collaboration with Katalin Karikó, the other co-winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, they published research on the RNA modifications needed to make it viable as a therapy. Initially, they tested it by applying it to specific diseases such as influenza, HIV, and genital herpes, and eventually shifted their focus to coronavirus diseases. In 2005, they published a groundbreaking study that used synthetic nucleosides to modify RNA, preventing its degradation by the body. This analysis laid the foundation for the use of RNA-based therapies. In 2010, Weissman was contacted by several private laboratories, including Moderna and BioNTech, interested in researching this new technique. Unlike Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman chose to remain at the University of Pennsylvania's medical school, where he established and managed a scientific laboratory. Innovative RNA technologies were eventually authorized by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna for the development of their COVID-19 vaccines. While mRNA was discovered in 1961 by Jacques Monod, François Jacob, and their collaborators at the Institut Pasteur, earning them the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1965, the work of Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, published from 2005, paved the way for the vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

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WEISSMAN Origin of surname
WEISSMAN

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name.

Weissman is a variant of the German Weissmann, which means "white man".

As a family name derived from a personal nickname it referred to persons with white hair, beard or skin.

As a family name, it could also be a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

As a family name, it could also have associations with towns and cities in central and east European countries, among them Weissenburg/Wissembourg in Alsace, eastern France; Weisweil in Baden, Germany; Stuhlweissenburg/Szekesfehervar in west central Hungary; and Weissenburg/Alba Iulia in Transylvania, central Romania.

Some variants, like Weissbecker (literally "white baker" in German), are names deriving from certain trades and occupations.

Weiss is recorded as a Jewish family name in 1197 in Wuerzburg, Germany, with Samuel Weiss, also known as Albus. Weisswasser is documented in 1678; Weissweiler in 1687; Weisskopf in 1690; Weisweiler in 1700; Weisel and Weiselitz in 1711; Weissweiller in 1743; Weissburg in the 18th century; Weis and Weissenburger in 1808; Weiskopf in 1891; and Waiskof in 1954.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Weissman include the German-born American jurist Fred S. Weissman (1888-1968), co-founder and Secretary General of 'Self-Help', and the 20th century American business executive George Weissman. In the 20th century Weissmanis recorded as a Jewish family name with the Weissman family, who lived in the town of Zhadova (Jadova) near Chernowitz, northern Bukovina (now Ukraine), prior to World War II (1939-1945), and whose entire Jewish community was deported to the death camps in July 1941.
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Jacob Weissman

Jacob Weissman (1886-1956), businessman and community activist, leader of the Zionist activists in Egypt and President of the Executive Committee of the World Zionist Organization in Cairo, born in Jerusalem, Israel (then part of the Ottoman Empire).

In his youth his family moved to Jaffa. He studied at the Alliance school, and then at Mikve Israel agricultural school. In 1905 moved to Egypt and worked at the Deutsche Orient Bank in Cairo, first as a clerk and finally as director of executive branch. Some time later he founded a private bank named "Schweitzer Wiseman & Komfani". After World War I he was the director of the oil company "Bilftrol". In 1920 Weissman moved to Alexandria, Egypt, and worked in agriculture, along with his brother Yehuda Weissman and a nephew.

At the same time he became a key activist in the Zionist and Jewish organizations in Egypt. In 1937, Weissman was a delegate to the 20th Zionist Congress held in Zurich, Switzerland. He was president of the executive committee of the World Zionist Organization in Cairo, the Jewish National Fund representative in Egypt, the president of the Committee for the Jewish soldier in Cairo and Vice President of the Chamber Allies in Egypt. During World War II, he was among the founders of "Jewish Soldiers' Club" in Cairo.

Weissman died in Tel Aviv in 1956. His wife was also active in several communal organizations.

Arieh Levanon

Arieh Levanon (born Leon Weissman) (1932-2023) was a composer born in Focsani, Romania. His musical talent was evident when he was only 7 years old when he taught himself to play the harmonica. At the age of 11, he began learning to play the violin, and just a year later, he started composing works. He attended the local Jewish high school and, at the age of 15, he founded a choir there, which he also conducted. In 1947, he joined an amateur orchestra established in his city.

In 1951, he immigrated to Israel with his family, initially living in Pardes Hana, and later in Jaffa. He began studying composition and conducting at the Music Academy and graduated in 1956. In the IDF, he served as an instructor at the Central Command Band, along with Oded Kotler, Alex Peleg, Shaike Levy, and Ili Gorlitsky, among others. In 1957, he composed his first song recorded in Israel, Lo tisaderu et shekamoti ("You will not frame up one like me", with lyrics by Dan Almagor), which was performed by the singer Rachel Kahlani. About two years after being released from the IDF, in 1960, he went to study in Italy for a year and then returned to Israel.

Levanon served as the musical director in the first program of the Bazal Yarok band, which was composed of members of the Nahal band and performed in the late 1950s. He even composed some of the program's songs. He became famous when he won first place in the first singer and chorus festival in 1960 as a composer and arranger with his song Erev Ba ("Evening is Coming", with lyrics by Oded Avisher).

Over the years, he maintained a fruitful composing career that included composing for various shows, Levanon was the first musical director of the Hagashash Hachiver Trio in its first two programs, Simchat Ziknati ("Joy of my Old Age") and Program D. In 1960, he composed the soundtrack for the comedy starring Haim Topol and Ilana Rubina, titled I Like Mike.

Levanon worked extensively with the composer Sasha Argov, for example, in the musical Shlomo Hamelech ve Shlomo Hasandlar ("Shlomo the King and Shlomo the Shoemaker") and in the play Shuk Hametziot ("The Market of Discounts")," both featuring songs by Nathan Alterman. He served as a musical director in several programs of the Nahal band. For many years, Levanon worked for the Song and Chorus Festival. He also conducted the Children's Song Festival, the Mizrahi Song Festival, and more.

In 2012, he composed an extraordinary work called Eretz arba safot ("The Land of Four Languages") for the Israeli piano ensemble Multipiano. For this piece, he delved into the musical sources of the various Israeli denominations and chose four songs that are landmarks in the soundtrack of the State of Israel. The ensemble members performed the piece around the world, including in New York, Beijing, Chicago, Montreal, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. In 2017, the ensemble members and conductor Dmitri Yablonsky recorded the piece with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

Levanon's work was recognized and appreciated over the years, and in 2014, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Drew Weissman

Drew Weissman (b. 1959), physician and scientist, co-winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, born in Lexington, MA, United States. He received his BA and MA from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, in 1981, specializing in biochemistry and enzymology. He completed his graduate studies at Boston University in immunology and microbiology, earning his doctorate in medicine in 1987.

In 1997, Drew Weissman moved to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He began his research by studying RNA and the biology of the innate immune system. In collaboration with Katalin Karikó, the other co-winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, they published research on the RNA modifications needed to make it viable as a therapy. Initially, they tested it by applying it to specific diseases such as influenza, HIV, and genital herpes, and eventually shifted their focus to coronavirus diseases. In 2005, they published a groundbreaking study that used synthetic nucleosides to modify RNA, preventing its degradation by the body. This analysis laid the foundation for the use of RNA-based therapies. In 2010, Weissman was contacted by several private laboratories, including Moderna and BioNTech, interested in researching this new technique. Unlike Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman chose to remain at the University of Pennsylvania's medical school, where he established and managed a scientific laboratory. Innovative RNA technologies were eventually authorized by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna for the development of their COVID-19 vaccines. While mRNA was discovered in 1961 by Jacques Monod, François Jacob, and their collaborators at the Institut Pasteur, earning them the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1965, the work of Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, published from 2005, paved the way for the vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.