Last Name Moskowitz

The last name "Moskowitz" is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and commonly found among Jewish people of Eastern European descent. It is derived from the Yiddish word "Moskver," which means "from Moscow." This indicates that the original bearers of the surname were likely associated with or from Moscow, the capital city of Russia.

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Moskowitz

The ethnic identity associated with the Moskowitz surname has remained largely consistent between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority identifying as White increased slightly by 0.10%, constituting 96.55% of individuals with the Moskowitz surname in 2010. There was a notable increase in those identifying as Hispanic, up by 18.85%. The counts for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or More Races saw decreases by -3.51% and -23.68% respectively. Lastly, both Black representation and American Indian and Alaskan Native representation remained essentially unchanged, with the latter experiencing a minor decrease of -21.43%.

	2000	2010	Change
White	96.45%	96.55%	0.1%
Hispanic	1.22%	1.45%	18.85%
Two or More Races	1.14%	0.87%	-23.68%
Asian/Pacific Islander	0.57%	0.55%	-3.51%
Black	0.47%	0.47%	0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native	0.14%	0.11%	-21.43%

Moskowitz ancestry composition

NomOrigine computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Moskowitz is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 65.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (15.0%) and French & German (8.7%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, Greek & Balkan, and Spanish & Portuguese.

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ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN	COMPOSITION
Ashkenazi Jewish	65.6%
British & Irish	15.0%
French & German	8.7%
Other	10.6%

Your paternal lineage may be linked to Napolean Bonaparte

The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte descended from the common ancestor of haplogroup E-M34. The male line of the Bonaparte family was from Tuscany, where Napoleon's earliest known male ancestors lived for at least six generations. Eleven generations before Napoleon, his ancestor, Giovanni, was the first to leave Tuscany for Corsica. The Bonaparte lineage lived in Corsica for ten generations before Napoleon's father, Charles-Marie Bonaparte. Charles-Marie (born in 1746) married Napoleon's mother, Letizia Ramolino, at the age of 18 in 1764.

Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette

Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Moskowitz

The meaning and origin of the last name Moskowitz

The surname Moskowitz is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Yiddish name Moshe, which is the Hebrew equivalent of Moses. The name Moskowitz can be traced back to the 18th century Eastern Europe, particularly in regions such as Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus, where Jewish communities flourished. Jewish surnames often originated from biblical or religious names, reflecting the significance of their faith and heritage. The name Moskowitz is composed of two parts: "Mosk," meaning Moses, and a common suffix "-owitz," which indicates "son of" in Yiddish. As a patronymic surname, Moskowitz would have been given to the descendants of a person named Moshe or Moses. Over time, Jewish families with the surname Moskowitz may have migrated to different parts of the world, particularly during periods of persecution and diaspora, leading to the widespread dispersal of this surname among Jewish communities worldwide.

Geographical distribution of the last name Moskowitz

The last name Moskowitz has an interesting geographical distribution across the world. It is predominantly of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, originating from Eastern Europe and Russia. Due to historical events such as pogroms and the Holocaust, many Moskowitz families migrated to different parts of the world during the 19th and 20th centuries. In the United States, the surname is quite common and can be found throughout the country. New York has the highest concentration of Moskowitz families, particularly in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Other significant communities can be found in New Jersey, Florida, and California. In Israel, there is also a sizable population of Moskowitz families, particularly in cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Many Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe settled in Israel in the mid-20th century, contributing to the presence of the surname. Additionally, smaller communities of Moskowitz families can be found in other parts of the world, including Canada, Argentina, England, and Australia, as descendants of Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants have established themselves in these countries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Moskowitz

The last name Moskowitz has several variations and spellings, reflecting the diverse ways it has been transcribed over time. Some common variations include Moskovitz, Moskowicz, Moskowitzky, Moskowits, and Moskovitzky. These variations often arise from regional dialects, individual pronunciations, or clerical errors during record keeping. The spelling Moskowicz, for example, is a more common variant among Eastern European Jews, while Moskovitzky is often associated with Russian or Polish origins. The name Moskowits, on the other hand, can be found among German Jewish communities. Despite these variations, all these spellings generally refer to individuals with Jewish heritage and contribute to the rich tapestry of Jewish surnames. Whether spelled Moskowitz, Moskovitz, Moskowicz, or any of its other iterations, this last name carries with it a sense of history and identity for those who bear it.

Famous people with the last name Moskowitz

Moskowitz is not an extremely common last name, and as a result, there aren't many well-known individuals with this surname. However, one famous person with the last name Moskowitz is Richard Moskowitz. He was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter who was prominent during the mid-20th century. Some of his notable works include the novels "In the Valley of the Kings" and "Three Lives," as well as his screenplays for films like "The Luckiest Guy in the World" and "Outrageous Fortune." Another notable figure with the last name Moskowitz is Richard S. Moskowitz. He was an American attorney and jurist who served as a Justice on the California Court of Appeal. Moskowitz was known for his distinguished legal career and his contributions to the field of law. He was appointed to the court in 2002 and served until his retirement in 2012. Throughout his tenure, Moskowitz made significant contributions to the judicial system and earned a reputation as a highly respected and esteemed figure in the legal community.

Genealogical research on the last name Moskowitz

The last name Moskowitz has its roots in Eastern European Jewish heritage. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Moshe," meaning Moses, a significant biblical figure. As a patronymic surname, it signifies "son of Moshe." This family name can be traced back centuries, originating primarily in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Migration and immigration trends during the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many Moskowitz families to the United States, seeking opportunities and new beginnings. They settled mostly in urban centers like New York City, where they established themselves as a tight-knit community, known for their strong cultural traditions and contributions to fields such as law, medicine, and academia. Today, the Moskowitz name continues to be abundant, with several prominent individuals bearing this surname in diverse fields worldwide. Genealogists can further explore this lineage by investigating specific family histories, immigration records, and oral traditions to reveal a comprehensive and detailed picture of the Moskowitz family tree.

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Moskowitz"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 11 April 2025

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