ELLMANN Origin of surname
ELLMANN, ELLMAN
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.
Ellman can be a variant of Hellman.
Literally "bright/clear man" in German, Hellman(n) means "seer/prophet" in Yiddish. Experts interpret the name as an allusion to Samuel the prophet or as a variant of Hillel Hazaken ("the elder"), the spiritual leader (Nasi) of the Jews in the 1st century BCE. Samuel derives from the Hebrew personal name Shmuel, which means "his name is God". The best-known bearer of this name was the Israelite judge and prophet who lived in the 11th century BCE. Widespread throughout the Jewish world, Samuel has produced numerous forms used as personal and family names. In Germany, Samuhel is recorded in 981 CE, Muels in the 14th century, and Schmoll in 1529. Benchimol is documented in North Africa in the 17th century, and Schmuhl, Schimmel, Simmel, Saulon and Schmuller are found in 18th century Alsace. Some Hellman(n) families became Gellmans when they moved to Russia because the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet replaces an initial "h" with a "g", and retained this spelling in the Latin Alphabet. Sometimes the initial "h" was dropped, producing the forms Elman/Ellman/Ellmann. Variants like Hillman and Gillman are also found in several countries.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Ellman include the 20th century Russian-born Israeli engineer and business executive, Shimon Ellman.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Ellmann include the 20th century American educator and author, Richard Ellmann.
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.
Ellman can be a variant of Hellman.
Literally "bright/clear man" in German, Hellman(n) means "seer/prophet" in Yiddish. Experts interpret the name as an allusion to Samuel the prophet or as a variant of Hillel Hazaken ("the elder"), the spiritual leader (Nasi) of the Jews in the 1st century BCE. Samuel derives from the Hebrew personal name Shmuel, which means "his name is God". The best-known bearer of this name was the Israelite judge and prophet who lived in the 11th century BCE. Widespread throughout the Jewish world, Samuel has produced numerous forms used as personal and family names. In Germany, Samuhel is recorded in 981 CE, Muels in the 14th century, and Schmoll in 1529. Benchimol is documented in North Africa in the 17th century, and Schmuhl, Schimmel, Simmel, Saulon and Schmuller are found in 18th century Alsace. Some Hellman(n) families became Gellmans when they moved to Russia because the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet replaces an initial "h" with a "g", and retained this spelling in the Latin Alphabet. Sometimes the initial "h" was dropped, producing the forms Elman/Ellman/Ellmann. Variants like Hillman and Gillman are also found in several countries.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Ellman include the 20th century Russian-born Israeli engineer and business executive, Shimon Ellman.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Ellmann include the 20th century American educator and author, Richard Ellmann.