Surname Rothman - Meaning and Origin

Rothman: What does the surname Rothman mean?

Rothman is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "rothman," meaning "red man." This could potentially refer to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Like many other Jewish surnames, Rothman was adopted as a hereditary surname during the late 18th and 19th centuries when governments in central and eastern Europe mandated that Jews adopt permanent, hereditary surnames for census purposes. The frequency of Rothman as a surname is highest in the United States, followed by Sweden and Israel. It can vary in spelling, with some families using Rothmann, Rotman, or Rotmann as alternative forms. Like many Jewish surnames, it can potentially reveal information about the physical features or profession of someone's ancestor, although specific meanings can be hard to trace due to historical changes in language and culture. The surname Rothman does not necessarily indicate an ancestral town or specific region of origin.

Rothman: Where does the name Rothman come from?

The last name Rothman is one of the many German Jewish surnames that first started appearing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a variation of the name "Rothschild" and is derived from the Yiddish word "rotshild", meaning "red shield."

The last name Rothman is likely most common in the United States of America. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are approximately 14,000 people with the last name Rothman in the United States. The largest concentration of the population is in the New York City region, with over 6,000 people. It is also quite common in Florida, with over 2,000 people, Pennsylvania (1,700 people), California (1,400 people) and Massachusetts (900 people) have the most Rothman residents.

Israel, where many of the Jewish population from Europe emigrated to in the mid to late 20th century, also has many Rothman families. Approximately 4,000 Rothmans live there, although the number may be higher due to people changing their name slightly to fit in more. Additionally, there are small pockets of Rothmans living in Europe, in Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Overall, the surname Rothman is one of the most common Jewish surnames from German or Eastern European descent, and is found mainly throughout the United States and Israel.

Variations of the surname Rothman

The surname Rothman has a few known variants and spellings, with both German and Jewish roots.

In Germany the surname is spelled as "Röthman", or "Röthmann". This spelling is derived from the Low German word for "red", as the name refers to a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

In Jewish families the name is spelled as "Rotman", or "Rotmanne", derived from the Hebrew name "Raḥmana", meaning "merciful".

Variants of the name include "Retman", "Retmann", "Redman", and "Redmann". These spellings are derived from a German word for "strong or powerful"

In the Netherlands, the name is most commonly spelled as "Rothmann".

In England, the name is most commonly spelled as "Rothman". This is likely to be a variant of the German spelling "Röthmann", brought over by German immigrants to England.

There are also a few other, slightly rarer surname variations, such as "Rootman" and "Rothenman".

In any case, although the spelling may vary, all these surnames have common origins and are ultimately derived from the Low German word for "red".

Famous people with the name Rothman

• David Lee Rothman: American author and academic best known for his work in the field of bioethics and medical sociology.
• Kenji Rothman: American judoka, three time Olympian and 1992 World Champion.
• Max Rothman: German politician and lawyer member of the Weimar Republic.
• Edward A. Rothman: American mathematician and professor specializing in pharmacokinetics, stochastic processes, and dynamical systems.
• Stuart Rothman: American mathematician and computer scientist best known for his work on the 1886 world chess champion Wilhelm Steinthal.
• Leonard Rothman: former professor of physiology and biochemistry at the University of Toronto.
• Bob Rothman: American stand-up comedian and producer.
• Ira Rothman: former American basketball player in the National Basketball Association.
• Susan Rothman: American journalist and editor for various news publications.
• Robert J. Rothman: American historian and consultant specializing in the human dimensions of scientific and technological innovation.

Other surnames

RothmaierRothmairRothmalerRothmayerRothmayrRothmeierRothmeirRothmelRothmeyerRothmund