PAUL Origin of surname

PAUL

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. This family name is also a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birthplace, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

Paul is a Greek equivalent of the Hebrew biblical male personal name Shaul (in English, Saul). Variants of Paul as a Jewish family name include the Hungarian Pal and the Slavic Pavel, and the patronymics (indicating descent in the male line) Pauli, the Italian Paoli as well as the Slavic Pavlovitch and Pavlofsky. In some cases, Paul as a Jewish surname is an abbreviation of Pollak, which means "Polish". The terms Pollak (German), Polacco (Italian), Polonais (French), Polacek (Czech), are also recorded as Jewish surnames, as well as Polsky (the adjective in Polish), and many other variants.

As a toponymic Paul is derived from the name of the Lithuanian village Pauliai in the district of Jurbarkas, south-west Lithuania.  The place is known is Yiddish as Paule and in Rusian as Paul'e. In certain cases, the family name Paul could be associated with the town of Saint-Paul in south-western France.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Paul include the 20th century American attorney, Eve W. Paul and the 20th century American educator and author, Shalom Morton Paul. Paul is documented as a Jewish family name with Chaya Paul of Jaunjelgava, Latvia, who perished in the Holocaust.