Surname Gurevitz - Meaning and Origin

Gurevitz: What does the surname Gurevitz mean?

The last name Gurevitz is of Jewish Ashkenazi origin, often linked with Eastern European Jewish communities. The exact meaning of the surname is unclear, but it is likely a patronymic name. It has variations such as Gurvitz, Gurvich, and Gurevich. In these names, the "vitz" or "vich" suffix is a Slavic element meaning "son of". Therefore, Gurevitz may mean "son of Gur" or "son of Gurev/ Gurevich". The root "Gur", could be derived from the Hebrew word "gur" which means "cub" or "young one". It's also possible that "Gur" is related to a geographical location or an occupational activity. Nevertheless, it's important to note that surnames' meanings can be very speculative given the vast changes in language, spelling and interpretation over centuries.

Gurevitz: Where does the name Gurevitz come from?

The surname Gurevitz is of Jewish Ashkenazi origin, stemming from Eastern Europe. It is a patronymic form of the Yiddish personal name Gurevich, which translates to "son of Gurev." In Yiddish, "vitz" or "witz" is a common ending for Ashkenazi Jewish surnames and typically means "son of". So, Gurevitz would mean "son of Gurev."

The dispersion of Ashkenazi Jews across different parts of the world makes the surname Gurevitz widespread and not restricted to a single geographic region. However, its concentration remains within the Jewish communities where Eastern European Jewish ancestry is common. Today, it can be found in countries such as the United States, UK, Israel, and Canada among other sites of the Jewish diaspora.

Variations of the surname Gurevitz

The surname Gurevitz is Jewish in origin and is a variant of Gorevitch or Gurevich, primarily seen in Russian and Eastern European Jewish communities. Other recorded variant spellings include Gurvich, Gurwicz, Gurvitz, Gurewitz, Gurvits, and even Horowitz in some cases. The name is patronymic, deriving from the personal name Gurev, signifying 'son of Gurev'. These name changes often happened due to pronunciation changes over time, migration and through Anglicization or other localization efforts. It's worth noting that the spelling variations can differ greatly due to translation from Cyrillic script to Western alphabets. Today, families with these surnames can be found worldwide, reflecting the extensive Jewish diaspora. Many families adapted their surnames to better fit in their new homeland or to ease pronunciation and spelling. As a result, names in different countries might look quite different but still share common roots. It's also plausible some different family lines with the original patronymic may have evolved different surnames independently, leading to multiple 'origin' points for what seems to be the same name.

Famous people with the name Gurevitz

• Ankit Gurevitz– American-born Israeli actor, singer, and musical director, best known for his role in the Israel Defense Forces’ Entertainment Team.
• Lior Gurevitz: Israeli soccer player who currently plays forironi Kiryat Shmona.
• Yaron Gurevitz: Israeli journalist and former political correspondent for Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
• Yoel Gurevitz: Israeli footballer who plays for Maccabi Petah Tikva.
• Einat Gurevitz: Israeli former Miss Israel, actress and a former model.
• Yotam Gurevitz: Israeli contemporary artist and curator whose works focus on social and political issues.
• Sarah Gurevitz: American songwriter, bass guitarist and band leader, best known for her music in the musical comedy The Job.
• Dani Gurevitz: Israeli writer and director of numerous documentaries depicting various aspects of life in Israel.
• Shaul Gurevitz: Israeli author and journalist known for his books about social and military subjects.
• Zeev Gurevitz: Chairman of the Gurevitz Brands Group, which acquires, designs and sells retail products.

Other surnames

Gurevich