Surname Pollack - Meaning and Origin
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read morePollack: What does the surname Pollack mean?
The last name Pollack is of Jewish origin, and is often found in Eastern European countries. It is derived from the Hebrew word "pollak" which means "peddler". The name is thought to have originated from an occupational name for a peddler of merchandise.
In the Jewish tradition, surnames were given to distinguish between two people with similar first names. Peddlers and traders were an important profession in Jewish society. A peddler or trader would often travel to distant places, and they often had large amounts of goods to transport for exchange. To distinguish between those with a similar name who practiced this profession, the occupational name 'Pollack' began to be used in the Middle Ages.
The surname is still popular in Eastern Europe today. It is most common in Israel, Poland, Germany, and Hungary, and is also found in other countries such as England, Russia, and the United States.
The popularity of the surname Pollack can be attributed to the influence of Jewish culture on Eastern European countries. The Jewish tradition of using occupational surnames has been passed down through the generations, and the profession of peddler or trader was the one of the main occupations of Jewish people in the Middle Ages. This legacy can be still seen in today’s world in the surname Pollack.
Order DNA origin analysisPollack: Where does the name Pollack come from?
The last name Pollack is most common in countries with a large Jewish population. Specifically, the name is very popular in Poland, where 3.3 million individuals, or 12.8 percent of Poles, are estimated to bear the Pollack surname. According to data released by the JewishGen Family Finder, it is also common in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, Austria, and Israel.
The Pollack name is also increasingly found in the United States. It is estimated that there are approximately 72,500 individuals with the Pollack last name residing in the US. That’s an increase from the 2000 US Census, which reported approximately 57,000 people using the surname. According to the Social Security Administration, the last name is the 525th most common name in the US, and its popularity is concentrated in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South, and Northeast regions of the US.
Interestingly, the Pollack last name is derived from the German word “Bollack.” The word itself is derived from the words for “bowl” or “pot” and literally translates to “bowl maker.” The name was originally given to individuals who made or sold pottery or other dishes.
Variations of the surname Pollack
The surname Pollack is an interesting and diverse surname with variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Pollock, followed by Poleck, Polack, Pawlik, Pollak, and Paulak. These variations have come about through different languages and cultures over time.
The root of the name Pollock is German. It is derived from the Middle High German poll or pol meaning “pool” or “creek”. The name, originally given to a person living near a pool or creek, also has Jewish origins and is derived from the Yiddish name Paulik, which means little Paul.
In Scotland, the surname Pollack was mainly found in the midlands and Northern England, and the variants Pollok and Pollokshields are also common in Scotland. The Polish variant of Polak and Pawlik are mainly found in Central and Eastern Europe and is derived from the old Polish word polak, meaning Pole.
The Italian version of the name Pollack is Pollaci, while the French spelling is Pollaque. Finally, the Spanish and Portuguese variants of the name are Polaco and Paulo respectively.
In conclusion, the surname Pollack has various spellings and derived surnames of the same origin. Through language and culture, the name may appear in a variety of forms. However, the origin of the name has remained the same - a person living near a pool or creek.
Famous people with the name Pollack
- Leonard Pollack: Canadian film producer, best known for producing movies such as Monster, Sea of Love, and Lolita.
- Brad Pollack: American actor and entrepreneur, known for his roles in Maniac Cop and Oz.
- Bruce Pollack: American entrepreneur and the former chairman and CEO of several different companies.
- Bernard Pollack: American military officer, serving as a United States Army Major General from 1974 to 1975.
- Elliott Pollack: American economist, consultant, and business executive.
- Robert Pollack: American chemist and professor of chemistry at Columbia University.
- Nadine Pollack: American-Israeli writer, journalist, and philanthropist.
- Saul Pollack: American scientist who worked at Princeton and New York University.
- Aaron Pollack: American mathematician, computer scientist, and cryptographer.
- Lewis Pollack: American business executive, known for his experiences as the former chairman and president of Pollack Real Estate Services, Inc.