Surname Segal - Meaning and Origin

How iGENEA Transformed my Understanding of the Surname 'Segal' and my Heritage

My DNA journey with iGENEA allowed me to deeply connect with my surname 'Segal', transforming my understanding of heritage and self-identity. Amidst ranging emotions, the discovery about my diverse lineage instilled in me a great pride and respect for my ancestors.

L. Segal

Segal: What does the surname Segal mean?

The last name Segal is one of a few variants of the given name Saul, and is a Jewish surname, of Hebrew origin. It is found in Jewish families of Ashkenazic origin, and is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew given name Saul, which itself means “asked for”.

The original spellings and pronunciations of Segal may differ from family to family. In some cases, the name is pronounced “ze-gawl”, however in other cases it is pronounced “say-gul”. For example, some Sephardic Jewish families have a different spelling and pronunciation of the name - "zegwul".

The Segal family is traditionally associated with Jewish rabbinical leadership. In the 16th century a prominent rabbinical family of Segal settled in Lithuania, and by the 19th century there was an entire family dynasty of rabbis with the name of Segal.

The surname Segal is most commonly found in Israel, where it is the 16th most common surname, and is still a very common surname throughout Eastern Europe as well as the United States. It is now a worldwide name, with many Segal’s forming communities throughout the world, both as Ashkenazic Jews and others with the same surname.

Segal: Where does the name Segal come from?

The last name Segal is a Jewish surname which is found throughout the world, particularly in Israel. It derives from the Hebrew word for assistant and descends from Ashkenazic Jewish ancestors.

In Israel, Segal is one of the most common surnames, found in the majority of the country with over 35,000 people currently bearing the name. It is the second most common given surname in Tel Aviv, the most populous city in Israel.

The surname may also be found in other parts of the world, such as Canada, France, the United States, Germany, and the Czech Republic. In Canada, the last name Segal is particularly common in the province of Quebec. Segal is also found among Jewish immigrants from Poland, where it is mostly spelled Segalovitch.

The United States is another popular country containing people with the last name Segal, due to its large population of Jewish immigrants. The cities of New York, Miami, and Los Angeles are known to have a large presence of Segals.

Segal is also found in other countries with large Ashkenazic Jewish populations, including France, Germany, and the Russian Federation. Throughout the world, the presence of Jewish immigrants from Europe has helped spread the name Segal to many different places.

Variations of the surname Segal

The surname Segal is of Jewish origin and has several alternative spellings and variants across the world. The original Hebrew pronunciation was "tzigal," however, as spoken language evolved, it began to take on different spellings. These include Segal, Segel, Segell, Zigal, Zigel and Zigal.

In the United States, Segel is the most popular spelling of the Saturday, followed by Segal. Other variants in the United States include Sigel, Ziegel, Sigal, Zegal, Zigal, Sigall and Zigel. In some cases, Segal can also be spelled as Segall.

In Eastern Europe, the surname Segal is commonly spelled as Segel or Zigel. In the Yiddish language, it is spelled as Zigal. In the Polish language, the equivalent spelling is Sigal. In Germany, Segel is the most common spelling. In Russia, Segel is among the various spellings used.

Other variants of Segal include Seger, Sigel, Sigeler, Sigelmann, Segmann and Zehgel.

Surnames with similar origins, but slightly different spelling include Zeilig, Zeilinger and Zalinger.

Famous people with the name Segal

• John Segal- a film director, producer, and writer who has collaborated with Hollywood icons such as George Lucas and Sylvester Stallone.
• Irv Segal- a well-known screenwriter who has written for television series such as The Waltons, The Partridge Family, and Magnum, P.I.
• Steve Segal- an American martial artist, actor, and stuntman. He is best known for his roles in action films such as Above the Law and Under Siege.
• Eddie Segal- a British film director and producer. His most notable works include Liar Liar, The Cosby Show, and NYPD Blue.
• Robert Segal- a Canadian actor and comedian. He is best known for his stand-up comedy routines on The Second City television series.
• Lawrence Segal- a children's book author and illustrator from Canada. Among his most famous books is the classic The Velveteen Rabbit.
• Sammy Segal- an American psychiatrist and author who wrote extensively about child psychology and behavioral studies.
• Mark Segal- an American journalist, author, and lecturer. He regularly writes and speaks about LGBT+ social issues and his memoir, And Then I Danced, chronicles his coming out experience.
• Ben Segal- a French-born actor who has appeared in films such as V For Vendetta and Inception.
• David Segal- a painter from New York City whose artwork focuses on abstract expressionism and popular culture.

Other surnames

Segan