Is Zeilinger a Jewish last name?

Sorry, I may have misspelled the name. The mother of a friend of mine was born in Vienna in 1939. Then was adopted under strange circumstances. She won't talk about her birth family in detail. She only mentions her brothers in passing. Could anyone help please? If she is Jewish the daughter would like to know because the mom is very ill. And she doesn't want to bury her inapproprietly. Any help would be appriciated. Thanks.

Is Zeilinger a Jewish last name?
I have, over the years, interviewed various persons who grew up during the Depression (1930s) here, and have noticed a real emotional wall about their memories. Those were very hard times for families.


In comparative terms.. they had a picnic, compared to what is historically known concerning WW2 and Europe. This screams MAJOR emotional trauma, on a level most of us can't even imagine. I live, breathe and dream genealogy. This is one area that I would not touch, UNLESS the person has shown that they want to remember it. The possible harm way outweighs the good. And I do understand daughter's desire to know.. but...


I second the suggestion of a chaplain or other 3rd party, who can ask about her possible wishes, without the emotion. That is part of their training (ie social worker, family assistant from hospital). If I were in daughter's shoes, and cannot get the info, seems like non denominational would be the most loving thing she could do.
Reply:Zeilinger is often a German Jewish surname, but it can be Aryan in some cases.





http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor/TOWNS/br...
Reply:There was a time when people did not have surnames and they took their names often times from the town or location they came from.





There are 3 branches of Judaism today. Reform,


Conservative and Orthodox. At one time all were Orthodox.








They do not agree on what defines a Jew. A Reform Jew states that a person is a Jew who is a follower of Judaism.





An Orthodox has one simple criteria. A Jewish mother is absolutely necessary, not a Jewish father. They state that they get the nation from their mother and the tribe from the father and if the father is not Jewish, they belonged to the tribe of the nearest male relative on the mother's side of the family. They state children raised in Reform Judaism cannot be Jews unless they enter Judaism as a convert.





So surnames among Jews can be rather complicated since the male line is what determines the surname.





I would imagine when testing ethnicity for Jews it would be important to stick with the mitochondrial or autosomal DNA not the Y DNA.
Reply:Its a Habitational name from Zeiling, in Bavaria. Now as to it being a Jewish or Yiddish surname I know not. Many Germanic names have Ashkenazic roots. I did google the name Zeilinger Jewish sunames and found some families of Jewish descent with this Surname. I have never researched Jewish Families or Surnames so I can't really give you any advice for the name or its connection to your friend mother. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Reply:It could be....but if your friend's mother was not a "praticing" Jew...giving her a Jewish burial ceremony could be just what she DOESN'T want...


If at all possible...ask her what her wishes are, or if she has anything written down...if not, ask any of her friends or other family members if she ever stated a "religious" preference...otherwise, just give her a joyous service celebrating her life...it does NOT have to be religious in tone..
Reply:Judaism is a religion, not an ethnicity. Your friend should know her mother's religious beliefs after all these years and should honor her mother in whatever relationship Mom has with her Creator. Don't read into things and try to insist on snooping through pre-war circumstances to read into things. She should have a very candid discussion with her mother to discuss how to handle the funeral and the arrangements. Guessing at religion isn't a real promising idea. If mom isn't a member of a synagogue and there's no evidence that she was ever a member of the Jewish faith, you'll be hard-pressed to get a rabbi to bury her in a Jewish cemetery...especially if you find out Mom was raised Catholic, was married in a Catholic church, and never left her Catholic faith.





If she was without religion most of her life, ask the hospital chaplain to visit her and help her come to peace with the situation.
Reply:yes. i actually know someoe whos last name is zellinger
Reply:I agree wholeheartedly with genevievesMom. There is no such thing as a Jewish surname, people of the Jewish faith come from many countries and backgrounds. I am sure if she was "practicing" her religion at all her daughter would know what that religion is. If not then do as suggested and get the hospital chaplin to visit her. The daughter needs to sit down with her and find out what her wishes are, no need to talk about the past to find this information out.