Feinberg
A German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname meaning “fine mountain” or, more likely, “fine/beautiful hill.”
The #7,255 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 67,177 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Feinberg is built from German fein, meaning “fine,” “delicate,” or “beautiful,” plus Berg, meaning “mountain” or “hill.” As a surname, it is usually understood as an ornamental or topographic-style Jewish family name formed in German-speaking lands, rather than as a literal inherited place-name for one family line. The name is often interpreted as “fine mountain” or “beautiful hill,” though in many cases the sense is more decorative than descriptive.
History
Feinberg is especially associated with Ashkenazi Jewish naming practices in Central and Eastern Europe, where many families adopted or were assigned German-form surnames in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It also appears in broader German-speaking contexts. In the United States, it is most often found among descendants of Jewish immigrants.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Berg can mean either “mountain” or simply “hill,” the name sounds grander than it may have been intended to be.