EZRA Origin of surname
EZRA, ESRA
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 based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
Ezra/Esra means "help" in Hebrew. The biblical Ezra, surnamed 'the Scribe', was a priest who played a major role in there building of the Temple after the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 7.6). Ibn Ezra is documented as a Jewish family name in the 11th century, Ezra in the 19th century, and Ezrahi in the 20th century. Other variants comprise the Slavic Ezrin and Ezdrin, as well as North African forms such as Alezera, Azra, Lezrah, Benazera and Benlezra.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish surname Ezra include members of a Baghdad family which settled in India, among them David Ezra (1797-1882), president of the Calcutta Jewish community and philanthropist.
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 based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
Ezra/Esra means "help" in Hebrew. The biblical Ezra, surnamed 'the Scribe', was a priest who played a major role in there building of the Temple after the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 7.6). Ibn Ezra is documented as a Jewish family name in the 11th century, Ezra in the 19th century, and Ezrahi in the 20th century. Other variants comprise the Slavic Ezrin and Ezdrin, as well as North African forms such as Alezera, Azra, Lezrah, Benazera and Benlezra.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish surname Ezra include members of a Baghdad family which settled in India, among them David Ezra (1797-1882), president of the Calcutta Jewish community and philanthropist.