Like other cultures, the Jews of Eastern Europe but also elsewhere in the diaspora would not have surnames but be known in their communities as ‘son of’ (‘Ben’) or daughter of (‘Bat’). You can see this was also the way of many peoples – the Scandanavians for eample with Johannson or Manguson. Even in England and Wales people would be know by their patronomic.

But other than aristocrats and wealthy people, Jews did not get formal surnames in Eastern Europe until either the Enlightment in the early 18th century or the Napoleonic years of the early 19th century. Napoleon was very tolerant of Jews especially given the historical context and wanted to ensure that the principles of the revolution meant ‘egalitie’ for all. So, in those regions where they had not been allowed to register their presence in the geography they lived, the Napoleonic era meant they could take or be assigned surnames.