Is the last name wernikowski a jewish last name? ?

They came from Poland but I don't know why they left or their ethicity. In the early 1900's there was a lot of Jews there and was wondering if the last name could be Jewish.

Is the last name wernikowski a jewish last name? ?
This appears to be a Polish surname and you will have to investigate the specific family to determine their religion. I looked at census records for Wernikowsk born in Poland and living in Erie PA, Chicago IL and Detroit MI. None gave the parent's native language as Yiddish, which should have been entered if they were Jewish.
Reply:Any name can be Jewish.





You have to understand how Jews define a Jew.





Reform Jews state a person is a Jew if they are of the Jewish faith.





Orthodox and Conservative Judaism defines a Jew by the mother only, not the religion or the father. They state they get the nation from the mother and the tribe from the father. If they don't have a Jewish father they belong to the tribe of the nearest male relative on the mother's side of the family. If they don't have a Jewish mother they do not consider them Jewish.





So a person can be a McGillicuddy and be a Jew.





Many names in the U.S. are considered Jewish as a large portion of immigrants to the U.S. with certain names were Jewish while back in their country of origin, the same name was used by Jews and non Jews. Also, I understand in Poland, particularly in the Warsaw area most people have some Jewish heritage.





Names that end with stein or berg are not necessarily Jewish and ski will usually always be Polish whether Jewish or Christian. Usually people with names like Levy or Cohen will be Jewish. They are a couple of the very few exclusive Jewish names.





Names like Jacobs or Jacobson just mean son of Jacob. People did not have a surname until the last milleninium. One of the way they were based was being the son of someone. There are Christians who have given their children names from the Old Testament of the Bible. So, if you have any Jacobs in your family, they may or may not be Jewish.
Reply:I don't know. Try some last name meaning websites. Or try asking a "Jewish Friend". Some last names mean something in that Origin/Language. Other than that, Im sorry I couldn't help!





~Weirdo~





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Reply:The name in found in the Jewish records. So it can be Jewish.


Do you have a specific name to research?





They possibly left for the same reasons so many came to America.
Reply:polish not jewish





son of werner





owski is the same as son of





werner is more german than polish. but adding kowski makes it polish.












Reply:ya it sounds very jewish
Reply:it sounds like it !!