Is surname Pitzer Jewish? If a person signed in at Ellis island as Hebrew are they Jewish?

Answer 1

It's hard to tell. Although it sounds like a jewish name, renember that Jews took on last names about 100 years ago, so they may have taken on names that were non-Jewish. It depends on what translation the word Pitzer means. In addition, some people gained their religion because they had to comply with the religion of the leaders of the country they were in. And also, some people married into families of different nationalities. See how far back you can go in tracing the religion/nationality rather than tracing the name. In addition, to prove out the nationality, you might want to check your DNA because there are some traits known now specifically to Jewish. You ask about Ellis Island records: they aren't fully accurate, although they give good clues. If they wrote "Hebrew", yes Hebrew means Jewish, however the family might have come from or had been determined to come from a town or village that had a heavy Jewish population. The scriveners (record keepers) at that time weren't sticklers on spelling or concern and that's why the inaccuracies. But, again, EI gives you a lot of good clues.

Answer 2

A surname might be considered "Jewish" by people who associate it mostly with Jews. So, the answer is: It depends. If most people named Pitzer in your community are (or are not) Jewish, then that name might be (or not be) considered Jewish in your community. And then, as you broaden your definition of your "community" (neighborhood? city? country? the world?), you increase the number of people with that name who don't belong to whatever the majority might be, and you increase the number of places in which you could find people who disagree with whatever conclusion you've reached.

However, if what you're really wondering is whether a specific person or family is Jewish, then the name is no more than a clue. No person is Jewish (or non-Jewish) simply because of their name.

Basic Jewish law says that a Jew is someone who is either born of a Jewish mother or who converts to Judaism. (Other considerations can arise, such as those reviewed in the Wikipedia article cited below.)

People who want to resolve questions about their own Jewish heritage probably need to do some geneological research, in which records from Ellis island can be valuable clues; the more clues they have, the more confident they can be with their conclusions. (Geneology clubs exist in many cities, and there are online geneology groups, all offering help in this area.) They may also benefit by consulting a rabbi, especially if the family history is vague or conflicting.

Answer 3

Pitzer

South German (Bavaria): probably from pitz ‘corner’, ‘peak’ + -er, suffix of habitation, hence a topographic name for someone living near such a feature in mountainous country.

North German: perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a seal maker or die sinker, from Middle Low German pitzer ‘seal’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4

http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?ln=

If they signed in as Hebrew they considered themselves Jewish.

Answer 4

Yes and yes.

Congratulations, you are one of the chosen ones!

Answer 5

yes