Surname Margolis - Meaning and Origin
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Margolis: What does the surname Margolis mean?
Margolis is a surname of Latin, German, and Jewish origins. Its Latin roots mean “pearl.” In German, Margolis is derived from the Middle High German word “morgehlis,“ meaning “ocean” or “pond.” In Jewish culture, the name "Margolis" is derived from the Hebrew word “morgol," meaning “teacher.”
The name has a long history and is one of the oldest surnames in the Germanic languages. It is thought to have first been recorded in the 8th century as “Morcles” and is likely to have originated in the Rhineland before migrating to other parts of Europe.
In the 1920s, Margolis was one of the most common Jewish surnames in Eastern Europe, particularly in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In the United States, the surname is most commonly known from Jewish Americans who migrated to the US from the 19th to mid-20th centuries.
In modern times, the name Margolis is still most commonly associated with the Jewish faith, but its meaning and origin has transcended cultural and religious divides. It is now a uniting force across many cultures and a representation of tradition, loyalty, and Marital status. It is a keeper of traditions, stories, and memories from one generation to the next.
Order DNA origin analysisMargolis: Where does the name Margolis come from?
The last name Margolis is most commonly found in the United States today. In particular, it is strongly associated with the Jewish Ashkenazi community. According to statistics from the 2020 US Census, over 10,000 individuals in the US are registered with the Margolis surname. This is significantly higher than population estimates from Ancestry.com, which lists the US Margolis population as around 6,000.
The states where the Margolis last name is most common are New York, California, Massachusetts, and Florida. In New York City, the surname is especially popular, with almost 2000 individuals within the city limits having the Margolis surname.
The Margolis surname is also found in other countries such as Canada, Israel, England, and even Australia. However, its frequency is much lower outside of the US. In Canada, around 1,000 people have the last name, while Israel and England list fewer than 500 people with the surname each.
The surname Margolis is believed to have its roots in the Hebrew language, meaning 'pearl'. It is often thought to have origins in an old Jewish clan from Poland, Lithuania, or Ukraine. However, there is no concrete evidence. Instead, its origin remains a subject of speculation.
Overall, the last name Margolis is most widely associated with the US, and the Ashkenazi Jewish population in particular. It is often linked to the idea of a Jewish family with roots in Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Margolis
The surname Margolis is of Jewish ancestry and originates from the Polish term ' Margulies'. This surname is often referred to as Margol, Margulis, Margole, Margoles, Maragoli, Margulies, and Margolis. In some cases, the surname has also been spelled as Margul, Margolo, Margual, Margulae, and Margule.
The Jewish origin of the word suggests that it is derived from a Hebrew word, meaning “pearl” and based on the Polish Middle Ages Jewish practice of giving distinctive nicknames. It is thought that the name eventually evolved into an inherited family name, passed down from generation to generation.
In some cases, the surname has been further modified to include different variants, such as Margaler, Margeler, Margolier, Margulan, Margalit, Margolines, and Margolin. These surnames are all variations of the same patronymic, which was adopted by a large number of Jewish families who left Eastern Europe in search of a better life.
The surname Margolis is also occasionally found spelled with the prefixes Ma or Mc depending on the language and region of origin. Variations of this surname in Spanish, which originated in the Judeo-Spanish region of Aragon, include Marixel, Marogel, Maroll, Marules, Marzal, and Marzales.
The ultimate source of the surname Margolis is uncertain, but as it is of Jewish descent, it is likely that its origins lie in the Middle East. Over time, the surname has developed variations that encompass many different regional and linguistic groups, and has been adopted by families all over the world.
Famous people with the name Margolis
- Ben Margolis: Ben Margolis is a video game designer from San Francisco who has created over a dozen popular titles for platforms like Xbox, Playstation, PC, and Android. He is best known for his work on the popular space-themed shooter series, Planetside, which sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
- Jeff Margolis: Jeff Margolis is an American film and television director who has received several Emmy Awards for his work on shows like The Wonder Years, Blossom, and Dharma & Greg.
- Julie Margolis: Julie Margolis is an American actress who is best known for her roles in films like The Breakfast Club and Uncle Buck. She has also appeared in television series including Friends, Sex and the City, and Brothers and Sisters.
- Jen Margolis: Jen Margolis is a comedian and actress who is known for her performances on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
- Dan Margolis: Dan Margolis is a musician and songwriter who has released multiple albums and performed with the likes of Metallica, Foo Fighters, and Jane's Addiction.
- Rebecca Margolis: Canadian author Rebecca Margolis is best known for her works of Jewish Canadian fiction, including her novel Dying in the Ways of Zion, which won the Kulugman magazine Award for Fiction.
- Eric Margolis: Eric Margolis is a prominent American journalist and foreign affairs commentator who began his career as a war correspondent in Vietnam. He is also a published author and a regular guest on various news and television shows.