MEYEROWITZ Origin of surname
MEYEROWITZ, MEYEROVITZ
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
Meyerowitz is a double patronymic, in which both suffixes (the Russian "-ov" and the Polish and German "ow" and the German "-itz") mean "son of", making the literal translation of Meyerowitz: "son of the son of Meyer". Meyerowitz is based on the Yiddish Meyer/German Mayer (literally "farmer"). However, as a Jewish family name, Meyer is usually a form of the Hebrew male personal name Meir. In talmudic times, people credited with bringing light or intellectual clarity to their subject were given the name Meir (Hebrew for "illuminates or radiates" or "one who sheds light"). A 2nd century, disciple of Rabbi Akiva, believed to have been named Mesha or Nehorai (the Aramaic forms), was known as Rabbi Meir because of his keenness in shedding light on the Halacha (the Jewish code of law). Associated Jewish family names are Yair ("will illuminate") and the Aramaic Nehorai ("light") or their variants and patronymics. Similarly, the names Uri and Shraga (literally "fire"). Meir is documented as a Jewish family name in Arles, France, in the 13th century. It appears as Meiger and Meyger in the 14th century in Strassbourg, as Meyr in 15th century France, as Maier in Germany in the 18th century. Other variants include May in Germany and Poland, Major in Turkey, both in the 16th century, Mayer in France and Germany, and M'riro and Merito in Morocco. Named for their forefathers, families were called Meyerson, Meyerovitch, Meyrowitz, Merovic and Ben-Meir, all meaning "son of Meir".
Distinguished bearers of the name Meyerowitz include the 20th century Russian-born American artist , William Meyerowitz, and his wife, Theresa Bernstein Meyerowitz.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
Meyerowitz is a double patronymic, in which both suffixes (the Russian "-ov" and the Polish and German "ow" and the German "-itz") mean "son of", making the literal translation of Meyerowitz: "son of the son of Meyer". Meyerowitz is based on the Yiddish Meyer/German Mayer (literally "farmer"). However, as a Jewish family name, Meyer is usually a form of the Hebrew male personal name Meir. In talmudic times, people credited with bringing light or intellectual clarity to their subject were given the name Meir (Hebrew for "illuminates or radiates" or "one who sheds light"). A 2nd century, disciple of Rabbi Akiva, believed to have been named Mesha or Nehorai (the Aramaic forms), was known as Rabbi Meir because of his keenness in shedding light on the Halacha (the Jewish code of law). Associated Jewish family names are Yair ("will illuminate") and the Aramaic Nehorai ("light") or their variants and patronymics. Similarly, the names Uri and Shraga (literally "fire"). Meir is documented as a Jewish family name in Arles, France, in the 13th century. It appears as Meiger and Meyger in the 14th century in Strassbourg, as Meyr in 15th century France, as Maier in Germany in the 18th century. Other variants include May in Germany and Poland, Major in Turkey, both in the 16th century, Mayer in France and Germany, and M'riro and Merito in Morocco. Named for their forefathers, families were called Meyerson, Meyerovitch, Meyrowitz, Merovic and Ben-Meir, all meaning "son of Meir".
Distinguished bearers of the name Meyerowitz include the 20th century Russian-born American artist , William Meyerowitz, and his wife, Theresa Bernstein Meyerowitz.