Last Name Simantob

Learn more about the origin of the last name Simantob

The meaning and origin of the last name Simantob

The surname Simantob is of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew name "Shimon," which means "he who hears" or "listens." Over time, the name evolved into its current form through various spelling variations due to translation and transcription errors. The surname Simantob is primarily associated with Sephardic Jewish families, who originated from Spain and Portugal before being expelled in the late 15th century. Many of these families migrated to the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and the Middle East, where the name Simantob can still be found today among Sephardic Jewish communities. It is worth noting that surnames were not widely used in Hebrew-speaking cultures until the modern era, with many Jewish families adopting surnames when they settled in countries where they had to register their names for official purposes.

Geographical distribution of the last name Simantob

The surname Simantob is primarily found in Jewish communities, particularly those of Sephardic and Mizrahi origin. Its distribution is concentrated in countries with significant Sephardic populations, such as Israel, Turkey, Greece, and the United States. In Israel, it's a relatively common last name, especially among the Jewish community in Tel Aviv. In the United States, cities with high populations of Sephardic Jews, such as New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles, have a significant number of individuals bearing the Simantob surname. Outside of these areas, its occurrence is less frequent but can be found in other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora.

Variants and spellings of the last name Simantob

Simantob is a surname with several variations and spellings due to differences in transliteration from Hebrew to English. The following are some of the commonly encountered forms:

1. Simantov - This is one of the most common spelling variants, resulting from alternative transliteration methods.
2. Shimantov - Another form that may arise due to minor differences in pronunciation and subsequent transliteration.
3. Semantov - A variant that could result from slight variations in pronunciation or misinterpretation of the original Hebrew.
4. Cimantov, Siemantov, Zimantov - These are less common variations that might occur due to errors during data entry, transcription, or immigration records.
5. Simantha (female form) - The feminine version of the surname, derived from the masculine Simantob/Simantov.
6. Simontov, Shimontov - These may be found in some cases as a result of misspellings or phonetic variations.
7. Symantov, Simentov, Zymantov - While less common, these variants might arise due to errors during data entry, transcription, or immigration records.

Famous people with the last name Simantob

Among the well-known individuals sharing the surname Simantob are:

1. Oren Simantov - An Israeli actor and model who has appeared in various television series, including "Prisoners of War" and "Fauda."

2. Galit Glazer Simantov - A former Israeli tennis player who reached a career-high ranking of 47 in the world in doubles in 1998.

3. Alon Simantov - A professional bassist and multi-instrumentalist, he has played with artists like John Legend, D'Angelo, and Common.

4. Yonatan Simantov - An Israeli singer and songwriter known for his hits "Lovesick" and "Tears of Joy." He also participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 as a backing vocalist for Hovi Star.

5. Ilan Simantov - An Israeli actor who has appeared in various television shows, films, and theatre productions, including "The Band's Visit," for which he won an Obie Award.

Genealogical research on the last name Simantob

The Simantob surname is of Sephardic Jewish origin and is believed to have derived from the Hebrew word "Shamatov," meaning "listener" or "attentive." The name appears to have originated in Spain or Portugal, where Sephardic Jews resided before their mass expulsion during the Inquisition in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Many Sephardic families, including Simantobs, were forced to flee to the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and the Balkans.

One notable Simantob lineage traces back to Abraham ben Moses Simantob, a rabbi who lived in Salonica (Thessaloniki), Greece, during the 17th century. His descendant, Rabbi Yitzhak Shlomo Dovber Simantov (1765-1846), was a prominent Torah scholar and communal leader in Salonica. Another significant figure from this lineage is David Simantob (1873-1942), who served as the Chief Rabbi of Thessaloniki from 1908 until his death during the Holocaust.

Today, the Simantob family can be found in various countries, with significant communities in Israel, Greece, Turkey, and the United States.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "simantob"
• 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 : 25 July 2025