Silverstein
A Jewish surname meaning “silver stone,” often built from German or Yiddish word elements.
The #5,300 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 46,950 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Silverstein is usually understood as a compound of German or Yiddish elements meaning “silver” plus “stone.” The first part comes from the word for silver, while the second is from Stein, “stone.” As with many Ashkenazic Jewish surnames, it likely arose as an ornamental or adopted name rather than from a single medieval family line.
History
The name is most strongly associated with Ashkenazic Jewish naming practices in Central and Eastern Europe, especially from the late 18th and 19th centuries, when many Jewish families adopted fixed surnames. In North America it appears in immigrant communities and later spread more widely. The best-known bearer is the American songwriter and author Shel Silverstein.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
“Stein” is one of the most common surname endings in Ashkenazic Jewish names, and Silverstein belongs to a large family of decorative compound surnames built from nature or valuable materials.