Goldstein
A German surname meaning “gold stone,” often linked to the gem chrysolite and, in some cases, to ornamental Jewish naming traditions.
The #1,173 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 10,313 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Goldstein is built from German gold, meaning “gold,” and Stein, meaning “stone.” In Harrison’s dictionary it is explained straightforwardly as “gold stone,” with a note that modern German goldstein can denote chrysolite, a yellow-green gemstone. As a surname, it can reflect either a direct German word formation or, especially in Jewish contexts, an ornamental name created from attractive-sounding nature/material words.
History
The name is well established in German-speaking areas and became especially widespread among Ashkenazi Jewish families in Central and Eastern Europe. Many bearers carried the name into the English-speaking world through 19th- and early-20th-century migration. It remains one of the best-known Germanic Jewish surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older German usage, goldstein could name a gemstone rather than a literal stone made of gold.
From the historical record
“+ smid (IM.H.Ger. smit] GOLDSTEIN (Ger.) Gold Stone [O.H.Ger. gold + stein] In Mod. Ger. goldstein denotes the chrysolite. GOTTFRIED (Ger.) see Godfrey in Diet. GOTTHARD (Ger.) see Goddard in Diet. GOTTSCHALK (Ger.) God's Servant”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)