KIRSH Origin of surname
KIRSCH
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.
Kirsh is a spelling variant of Kirsch.
Literally "cherry" in German, Kirsch(e) is one of the numerous variants of the biblical Gerschon/Gershon. The diversification of the personal name is strikingly illustrated by an American Kirschen (the German for "cherries") family, originally from Seduva near Kovno in Lithuania, who also called themselves Kirsh (an English spelling of the German Kirsch), Kerson (a spelling variant of Gerson), and Kirson (a form of Kerson/Gerson). The Levitic clan of the Gershonites (Gershuni) are his descendants. The biblical name appears in several spellings, preserving its phonetic identity, but in the course of Jewish migration and the impact of different languages spoken by the ethnic majorities in whose countries Jews lived in the Diaspora, Gershon/Gerschon has produced many family names which look and sound quite unlike the original and seem to be far removed from its initial significance. Abbreviated to Gersh/Gersch, and combining with the Greek Geronymos ("old man"), it created Gronim. Gersh/Gertz, derived from Gershon as well as the Slavic variant of the German Herz ("heart" and "hart" in German, a 'kinnui', or "secular equivalent", of Naphtali), fathered names like Gershovitz and Gerschmann. Merging with place names, it formed groups of family names comprising the German terms for "barley" (Gerste), "cherry" (Kirsche), and even "church" (Kirche). The original name Gershon is almost invisible in the 20th century French Carchamboin, derived from the equally distant Yiddish Karchenboym, but less veiled in the Russian Gershuni, the German Gerson, the English Gershwin and the 13th century French Garsonnet.
Spelling variants of the German Kirsch include the Yiddish/Polish Kersch, Kirsz, Kiersz and Kers. Kherson is a city in Ukraine, which had a large Jewish population in the early 20th century. It stands on the site of the ancient Greek colony Chersoneros, where some Jews went to live in the Roman period. Although certain families may have taken their name from this city, Kerson and its variants are generally derived from Gerson/Gershon.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kirsh include the 20th century American attorney and author, Benjamin S. Kirsh.
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.
Kirsh is a spelling variant of Kirsch.
Literally "cherry" in German, Kirsch(e) is one of the numerous variants of the biblical Gerschon/Gershon. The diversification of the personal name is strikingly illustrated by an American Kirschen (the German for "cherries") family, originally from Seduva near Kovno in Lithuania, who also called themselves Kirsh (an English spelling of the German Kirsch), Kerson (a spelling variant of Gerson), and Kirson (a form of Kerson/Gerson). The Levitic clan of the Gershonites (Gershuni) are his descendants. The biblical name appears in several spellings, preserving its phonetic identity, but in the course of Jewish migration and the impact of different languages spoken by the ethnic majorities in whose countries Jews lived in the Diaspora, Gershon/Gerschon has produced many family names which look and sound quite unlike the original and seem to be far removed from its initial significance. Abbreviated to Gersh/Gersch, and combining with the Greek Geronymos ("old man"), it created Gronim. Gersh/Gertz, derived from Gershon as well as the Slavic variant of the German Herz ("heart" and "hart" in German, a 'kinnui', or "secular equivalent", of Naphtali), fathered names like Gershovitz and Gerschmann. Merging with place names, it formed groups of family names comprising the German terms for "barley" (Gerste), "cherry" (Kirsche), and even "church" (Kirche). The original name Gershon is almost invisible in the 20th century French Carchamboin, derived from the equally distant Yiddish Karchenboym, but less veiled in the Russian Gershuni, the German Gerson, the English Gershwin and the 13th century French Garsonnet.
Spelling variants of the German Kirsch include the Yiddish/Polish Kersch, Kirsz, Kiersz and Kers. Kherson is a city in Ukraine, which had a large Jewish population in the early 20th century. It stands on the site of the ancient Greek colony Chersoneros, where some Jews went to live in the Roman period. Although certain families may have taken their name from this city, Kerson and its variants are generally derived from Gerson/Gershon.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kirsh include the 20th century American attorney and author, Benjamin S. Kirsh.