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MARGOLIS Origin of surname

MARGOLIS, MARGULIS, MARGULES, MARGOLIES, MARUGLIES

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 matronymic (derived from a female ancestor's personal name). These names are variants of the Hebrew Margalit meaning "pearl". Pearl became a popular female personal name throughout the Jewish Dispersion. Margulis was formed due to the interchangeability of "t" and "s" in the pronunciation of German and Yiddish speaking Jewry ("Ashkenazim"). Margolioth, one of the numerous variants of Margalit, is recorded as a Jewish surname in 15th century Germany with Jacob Margolioth, rabbi of Regensburg. Margolis is a quite popular and old family name used by some rabbinic dynasties. Margolis is common among Jewish families originating in Augustow, Suwalki, Kolno and Lodz, and Margulis is common among families from Starokonst, Rovno and Berdichev - all in Eastern Europe and Russia. In the 20th century Margulis is recorded as a Jewish surname with Adolf Margulis of Berlin, Germany, who perished in the German death camp at Auschwitz during World War II; with the Ukrainian-born World War II Colonel David Margulis, who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; and with the Margulis family from the town of Zhadowa (Jadova) near Chernowitz, north Bukovina (now Ukraine), which was deported, together with the entire Jewish community of Zhadova, to the German death camps in 1941.

Samuel Hirsch Margulies (1858-1922), rabbi and scholar, born in Berezhany, Ukraine (then Brzezany, in the Austrian Empire). He studied at the Breslau Jewish Theological Seminary and at the universities of Breslau and Leipzig, in Germany. He was rabbi in Hamburg (1885-1887), district rabbi of Hesse Nassau, Germany, (1887-90) and in 1890 was appointed chief rabbi of Florence, Italy. In 1899 he became principal of Italy’s only rabbinical seminary, the Collegio Rabbinico Italiano, when it transferred from Rome to Florence. Margulies was a powerful spiritual force in Italy and trained many of its religious leaders. He founded and edited Rivista Israelitica, the learned journal published by the Seminary. His scholarly publications included an edition of Rabbi Saadiah’s Arabic translation of the Psalms.

Max Leopold Margolis (1866-1932), scholar. After a thorough Jewish and general education, he went to the US in 1889. He taught at Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, (professor of biblical exegesis) and University of California, Berkeley (Semitic languages). A devoted Zionist, he left Hebrew Union College largely on account of the president's anti-Zionism. From 1914-17 he was chief editor of the Jewish Publication Society of America's translation of the Bible into English. From 1909 until his death Margolis was professor of biblical philology at Dropsie College, Philadelphia. He was the author of many works, many related to the Bible and Hebrew grammar but was most popularly known for his collaboration with Alexander Marx in History of the Jewish People.

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MARGOLIS Origin of surname
MARGOLIS, MARGULIS, MARGULES, MARGOLIES, MARUGLIES

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 matronymic (derived from a female ancestor's personal name). These names are variants of the Hebrew Margalit meaning "pearl". Pearl became a popular female personal name throughout the Jewish Dispersion. Margulis was formed due to the interchangeability of "t" and "s" in the pronunciation of German and Yiddish speaking Jewry ("Ashkenazim"). Margolioth, one of the numerous variants of Margalit, is recorded as a Jewish surname in 15th century Germany with Jacob Margolioth, rabbi of Regensburg. Margolis is a quite popular and old family name used by some rabbinic dynasties. Margolis is common among Jewish families originating in Augustow, Suwalki, Kolno and Lodz, and Margulis is common among families from Starokonst, Rovno and Berdichev - all in Eastern Europe and Russia. In the 20th century Margulis is recorded as a Jewish surname with Adolf Margulis of Berlin, Germany, who perished in the German death camp at Auschwitz during World War II; with the Ukrainian-born World War II Colonel David Margulis, who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; and with the Margulis family from the town of Zhadowa (Jadova) near Chernowitz, north Bukovina (now Ukraine), which was deported, together with the entire Jewish community of Zhadova, to the German death camps in 1941.
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Samuel Hirsch Margulies

Samuel Hirsch Margulies (1858-1922), rabbi and scholar, born in Berezhany, Ukraine (then Brzezany, in the Austrian Empire). He studied at the Breslau Jewish Theological Seminary and at the universities of Breslau and Leipzig, in Germany. He was rabbi in Hamburg (1885-1887), district rabbi of Hesse Nassau, Germany, (1887-90) and in 1890 was appointed chief rabbi of Florence, Italy. In 1899 he became principal of Italy’s only rabbinical seminary, the Collegio Rabbinico Italiano, when it transferred from Rome to Florence. Margulies was a powerful spiritual force in Italy and trained many of its religious leaders. He founded and edited Rivista Israelitica, the learned journal published by the Seminary. His scholarly publications included an edition of Rabbi Saadiah’s Arabic translation of the Psalms.

Max Leopold Margolis

Max Leopold Margolis (1866-1932), scholar. After a thorough Jewish and general education, he went to the US in 1889. He taught at Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, (professor of biblical exegesis) and University of California, Berkeley (Semitic languages). A devoted Zionist, he left Hebrew Union College largely on account of the president's anti-Zionism. From 1914-17 he was chief editor of the Jewish Publication Society of America's translation of the Bible into English. From 1909 until his death Margolis was professor of biblical philology at Dropsie College, Philadelphia. He was the author of many works, many related to the Bible and Hebrew grammar but was most popularly known for his collaboration with Alexander Marx in History of the Jewish People.