The surname Epstein ( yi, עפּשטײן, Epshteyn) is one of the oldest

Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...

family name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name, ...

s. It is probably derived from the German town of Eppstein, in

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are ...

; the place-name was probably derived from

Gaulish Gaulish was an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switze ...

''apa'' ("water", in the sense of a river) and German '' -stein'' ("stone", in the sense of a hill). Some people with this name include:

Arts

* Alex Epstein, Israeli writer *

Barbara Epstein Barbara Epstein ( Zimmerman; August 30, 1928 – June 16, 2006) was a literary editor and founding co-editor of ''The New York Review of Books''. Life and work Epstein, née Zimmerman, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a Jewish family, and g ...

, literary editor * Brian Epstein (1934–1967), businessman, manager of the Beatles *

Daniel Epstein (pianist) Daniel Epstein (born 1946) is an American pianist. Life A graduate of the Juilliard School, Epstein received international recognition when the conductor, Eugene Ormandy, invited him to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973. Later tha ...

Daniel Mark Epstein Daniel Mark Epstein (born October 25, 1948) is an American poet, dramatist, and biographer. His poetry has been noted for its erotic and spiritual lyricism, as well as its power—in several dramatic monologues—in capturing crucial moments ...

, biographer and poet *

Deborah Epstein SoShy (born Deborah Sarah Epstein;), is a French singer, songwriter, actress, DJ and model. Early life She was born Deborah Sarah Epstein in Paris, France, on September 14, 1984,SoShy in thFrench National Library/ref> to a French-Argentine-Ita ...

, French-American singer-songwriter more commonly known as SoShy * Dena Epstein (1916–2013), American music librarian, writer, and musicologist * Edward Jay Epstein, author and early critic of the Warren Commission * Howie Epstein, bass guitarist * Jacob Epstein, sculptor *

Jake Epstein Jacob Lee Epstein (born January 16, 1987) is a Canadian actor and singer. He played Craig Manning, a musician with bipolar disorder, on '' Degrassi: The Next Generation''. He also played Will in the First National Tour of '' American Idiot'', an ...

, Canadian actor * Jason Epstein, publisher who popularized the trade paperback *

Jean Epstein Jean Epstein (; 25 March 1897 – 2 April 1953) was a French filmmaker, film theorist, literary critic, and novelist. Although he is remembered today primarily for his adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's ''The Fall of the House of Usher'', he directe ...

, film director *

Joseph Epstein Joseph Epstein (October 16, 1911 – April 11, 1944), also known as Colonel Gilles and as Joseph Andrej, was a Polish-born Jewish communist activist and a French Resistance leader during World War II. He was executed by the Germans. Communi ...

, American editor and essayist * Julius Epstein, Croatian pianist * Julius J. Epstein, Oscar-winning screenwriter, brother of Philip G. Epstein * Kathie Lee Epstein (born 1953), maiden name of Kathie Lee Gifford, American television host *

Lawrence J. Epstein Lawrence Jeffrey Epstein (born 1946) is an American author who writes and lectures about American culture and society, Jewish life, and mystery fiction. He is best known for his book ''The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America'' a ...

(born 1946), American author *

Leslie Epstein Leslie Donald Epstein (born May 4, 1938 in Los Angeles) is an American educator, essayist, and novelist. Epstein is currently Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Boston University. Career Epstein was born to an A ...

, novelist * Mel Epstein, film director and producer *

Michael J. Epstein Michael J. Epstein (born 1976), is an American filmmaker, musician, writer, and auditory scientist. Epstein has also spoken and written about the impact of local media on the arts, music service gatekeeping, effective social networking, and crowd ...

(born 1976), American filmmaker and musician * Mikhail Epstein, literary theorist and Emory University professor *

Philip G. Epstein Philip G. Epstein (August 22, 1909 – February 7, 1952) was an American screenwriter most known for his screenplay for the film ''Casablanca'' (1942), which won an Academy Award. He had written it in partnership with his twin brother Julius and ...

, Oscar-winning screenwriter, brother to Julius J. Epstein * Rob Epstein, American director *

Selma Epstein Selma Epstein (August 14, 1927 – November 21, 2014) was an American concert pianist, teacher, and champion of contemporary music by women and African Americans. Biography Born August 14, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to Tillie (Schneider) and Sa ...

, American concert pianist *

Steven Epstein (music producer) Steven Epstein is an American record producer. The winner of 16 Grammy Awards and 2 Latin Grammys, he has been nominated 35 times. He has won the Grammy for Classical Producer of the Year 7 times. While primarily known for his work in classical m ...

, U.S. classical music producer with Sony *

Temi Epstein Temi Le Anne Epstein (born January 6, 1975) is an American former child actress active in the middle 1980s. Her best-known movie is in '' Friday the 13th Part VI'', but her more remarkable role was the one of "Young Ashton Main" in the 1985 mini ...

, child actress

Mathematics

Bernard Epstein Bernard Epstein (10 August 1920, Harrison, New Jersey – 30 March 2005, Montgomery County, Maryland) was an American mathematician and physicist who wrote several widely used textbooks on mathematics.Washington Post obituaryBernard Epstein, Col ...

, American mathematician and physicist *

David B. A. Epstein David Bernard Alper Epstein FRS (born 1937) is a mathematician known for his work in hyperbolic geometry, 3-manifolds, and group theory, amongst other fields. He co-founded the University of Warwick mathematics department with Christopher Zeem ...

, British mathematician *

Lenore A. Epstein Lenore Alice Epstein Bixby (August 12, 1914 – April 5, 1994)''Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''. Social Security Administration. was an American statistician who worked with the Social Security Administration and the National Academy ...

, American statistician * Paul Epstein, German mathematician * Paul Sophus Epstein, American mathematician/physicist of Polish/Russian origin and California Institute of Technology professor. * Richard Arnold Epstein, mathematician, game theorist

Military

* Giora Epstein, "ace of aces" Israeli fighter pilot *

, communist French resistance leader

Religion

Abraham Epstein Abraham Epstein ( he, אברהם עפשטיין; 19 December 1841 – 1918) was a Russo-Austrian rabbinical scholar born in Staro Constantinov, Volhynia. Epstein diligently studied the works of Isaac Baer Levinsohn, Nachman Krochmal, and S. D. Luz ...

(born 1841), Russo-Austrian rabbinical scholar * Aryeh Leib Epstein, Polish rabbi * Baruch Epstein, Lithuanian rabbi and the son of Yechiel Michel Epstein *

Greg Epstein Greg M. Epstein (born 1977) is the president of the Harvard Chaplains Organization and Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is an ordained Humanist Rabbi, and has been influential in American ...

, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University from 2005 * Isidore Epstein, rabbi and biblical scholar *

Mendel Epstein The New York divorce coercion gang was a Haredi Jewish group that kidnapped, and in some cases tortured, Jewish men in the New York metropolitan area to force them to grant their wives '' gittin'' (religious divorces). The Federal Bureau of Inv ...

, American rabbi and kidnapper, also known as "The Prodfather" * Moshe Mordechai Epstein, rabbi and author of the Levush Mordechai * Yechiel Michel Epstein, Lithuanian rabbi and author of the Arukh HaShulkhan *

Zelik Epstein Zelik Epstein, also known as Zelig Epstein (full name Aharon Zelig Epstein) (July 10, 1914 – August 3, 2009), was a prominent Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah-Grodno, a private Talmudical institution in Kew Gardens ...

, Rosh Yeshiva of the Shaar HaTorah-Grodno Yeshiva, located in Kew Gardens, New York

Science and medicine

* Alex Epstein, American energy theorist * Charles Epstein (geneticist) *

Claire Epstein Claire Epstein (18 September 1911 – 18 August 2000) was an Israeli archaeologist. She is noted for her discovery and work on the Chalcolithic Culture in Golan and was a noted member of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Biography Epstein w ...

(1911–2000), Israeli archaeologist * Edward Epstein (meteorologist), developer of statistical weather forecasting *

Fred Epstein Fred J. Epstein (July 26, 1937 – July 9, 2006) was a pediatric neurosurgeon credited for the development of pioneering neurosurgical techniques to treat children threatened by brain and spinal-cord tumors. Education Born in Yonkers, New York, ...

, pediatric neurosurgeon * Lenore Epstein (born 1942), birth name of

Lenore Blum Lenore Carol Blum (née Epstein, born December 18, 1942) is an American computer scientist and mathematician who has made pioneering contributions to the theories of real number computation, cryptography, and pseudorandom number generation. She ...

, computer scientist and mathematician *

Mark Epstein Mark Epstein (born 1953) is an American author and psychotherapist who integrates Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings with Sigmund Freud's approaches to trauma. He often writes about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy.Mark Epstein''Freud and B ...

, psychotherapist * Sir Michael A. Epstein, British pathologist, discoverer of the Epstein-Barr virus. * Robert Epstein, psychologist *

Rose Frisch Rose Epstein Frisch (July 7, 1918 – January 30, 2015) was a pioneering American scientist in fertility and human development whose work was instrumental in the discovery of leptin. She is mainly known for her work in infertility; specifically ...

(Rose Epstein Frisch), biologist * Samuel Epstein, doctor and professor of environmental medicine *

Samuel Epstein (geochemist) Samuel Epstein (December 9, 1919 – September 17, 2001) was a Canadian- American geochemist who developed methods for reconstructing geologic temperature records using stable isotope geochemistry. He was elected to the United States Nationa ...

, Wollaston Medal winner

Sport

Charlotte Epstein Charlotte "Eppy" Epstein, (1884-1938), coached the United States Women's Olympic Swimming Team in the 1920s and founded the Women's Swimming Association. She was known as "Mother of Women's Swimming in America". Career Epstein was born in 1884 i ...

(1884–1938), nicknamed "Eppie", American Hall of Fame swimming coach, "Mother of Women's Swimming in America" * Denis Epstein, German football player *

Hayden Epstein Hayden Scott Epstein (born November 16, 1980) is a former American football placekicker and punter who played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1998 to 2001 and played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) ...

(born 1980), American NFL football player *

Kurt Epstein Kurt Epstein (January 29, 1904 – February 1, 1975) was a Czechoslovakian Olympic water polo player and survivor of Nazi concentration camps. Early life Epstein was Jewish, and born to Maximilian and Helena Epstein. He grew up in Roudnice nad L ...

, Czechoslovakian Olympic water polo player * Mike Epstein, nicknamed "SuperJew" (born 1943), American major league baseball player *

Theo Epstein Theo Nathaniel Epstein (born December 29, 1973) is an American Major League Baseball executive, who currently works for MLB as a consultant. He was the vice president and general manager for the Boston Red Sox and then the president of baseball ...

(born 1973), American President of Baseball Operations for the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

Other

Alan H. Epstein Alan H. Epstein (born February 9, 1949) is a distinguished aeronautical engineer. He received his S.B., S.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971, 1972 and 1975 respectively. At M.I.T. he was the R.C. Maclaurin Pr ...

, aeronautical engineer *

Anthony C. Epstein Anthony Charles Epstein (born June 17, 1952) is an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Education and career Epstein earned his Bachelor of Arts from Yale College in 1974, and his Juris Doctor from Yale Law Sc ...

, American jurist *

David Epstein (gangster) The New York divorce coercion gang was a Haredi Jewish group that kidnapped, and in some cases tortured, Jewish men in the New York metropolitan area to force them to grant their wives ''gittin'' (religious divorces). The Federal Bureau of Invest ...

, former member of Epstein–Wolmark gang *

David G. Epstein David Gustav Epstein is the George E. Allen Professor of Law at University of Richmond School of Law and an expert on bankruptcy. Epstein was raised in Texas by a Jewish family. Epstein received a B.A. from the University of Texas in 1964, a J.D. ...

, law professor *

Eliahu Epstein Eliahu Elath (Hebrew: אליהו אילת, born ''Ilya Menakhemovich Epstein''; 16 July 1903 – 21 June 1990) was an Israeli diplomat and Orientalist. In 1948 he became the first Israeli ambassador to the United States, and between 1950 and 1959 ...

(1903–1990), birth name of Eliahu Eilat, Israeli diplomat and President of the

Hebrew University of Jerusalem The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Dr. Chaim Weiz ...

Howard Epstein Howard Michael Epstein (born January 17, 1949) is a Canadian politician, lawyer and part-time law professor. Early life and career Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he is an environmentalist, serving as the director of the Ecology Action Centre ...

, Canadian politician * Hedy Epstein (1924–2016), Jewish anti-Zionist *

Israel Epstein Israel Epstein (20 April 1915 – 26 May 2005) was a Polish-born Chinese journalist and author. He was one of the few foreign-born Chinese citizens of non-Chinese origin to become a member of the Chinese Communist Party. Early life and educat ...

, Polish-Chinese journalist *

Jacob Epstein (spy) Jacob Epstein, also Jake Bermanen, (10 November 1903 – 10 February 1998) was born in Brooklyn, New York of Russian parents. He graduated from Cornell University in 1924, where he became friends with Anna Colloms, who was also a student. In 193 ...

, alleged Soviet intelligence agent * Jeffrey Epstein (1953–2019), American financier and sex offender *

Kathleen Epstein Kathleen Esther Garman, Lady Epstein (15 May 1901 – August 1979) was the third of the seven Garman sisters, who were high-profile members of artistic circles in mid-20th century London, renowned for their beauty and scandalous behaviour. She ...

, American-British sculptor *

Lee Epstein Lee Epstein is an American political scientist who is currently the University Professor of Law & Political Science and Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Southern California. Career Universi ...

, American political scientist *

Leon Epstein Leon David Epstein (May 29, 1919 – August 1, 2006) was an American political scientist. He was born in Milwaukee on May 29, 1919, and raised in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1936 to study economic ...

(1919–2006), American political scientist * Leopold Vail Epstein (1910–1991), American attorney and father of

Linda McCartney Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, vegetarian cookbook author and advocate, and entrepreneur. She was the keyboardist in th ...

Melech Epstein Melech Epstein ( yi, מלך עפשטײן, 1889–1979) was an American journalist and historian. His two most famous books, ''Jewish labor in U.S.A.'' and ''The Jew and communism'' are considered standard works. Early life Epstein was born i ...

(1889–1979), American journalist and historian * Moses J. Epstein ( 1911–1960), New York assemblyman *

Richard Epstein Richard Allen Epstein (born April 17, 1943) is an American legal scholar known for his writings on torts, contracts, property rights, law and economics, classical liberalism, and libertarianism. He is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law at N ...

, law professor *

Samuel Epstein (politician) Samuel S. Epstein (January 1, 1890–April 21, 1951) was an American lawyer and physician. Biography Epstein emigrated to the United States from Russia when he was fourteen years old and settled in Chicago, Illinois. Epstein was educated in t ...

, American politician, lawyer, and physician *

Simon Epstein Simon Epstein (born in 1947 in Paris) is an Israeli economist and historian. Career Epstein obtained a doctorate degree in political science at Pantheon-Sorbonne University. He moved to Jerusalem in 1974 and worked as an economist for the Israel ...

, Israeli economist and historian * Steven Epstein (academic), sociologist * William Epstein, Canadian international civil servant

Fictional characters

* Juan Epstein, fictional character on the TV series ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' *

Dov Epstein ''Rookie Blue'' is a Canadian police drama television series starring Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith. It was created by Morwyn Brebner, Tassie Cameron, and Ellen Vanstone. The series premiered on June 24, 2010, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern/8: ...

, fictional character on the TV series ''Rookie Blue'' * Solomon Epstein, fictional character on the TV series ''The Expanse''

Variant surnames

* Katja Ebstein (b. 1945), German singer * Wilhelm Ebstein (1836–1912), German Jewish physician and nutritionist *

David Eppstein David Arthur Eppstein (born 1963) is an American computer scientist and mathematician. He is a Distinguished Professor of computer science at the University of California, Irvine. He is known for his work in computational geometry, graph algorit ...

(b. 1963), computer scientist * Margaret J. Eppstein, complex systems theorist *

Nikolay Epshtein Nikolay Semyonovich Epshtein (russian: Николай Семёнович Эпштейн) (27 December 1919 – 27 August 2005) was a Soviet ice hockey coach. Biography Epshtein, who was Jewish, was born in Kolomna, Russian FSFR. He coached from 1 ...

(1918–2005), Soviet ice hockey coach * Shakne Epshtein, Soviet journalist *

Boris Epshteyn Boris Epshteyn (born August 14, 1982) is a Russian-American Republican political strategist, investment banker, and attorney. He was a strategic advisor on the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign and has remained a close advisor to Trump in ...

, political commentator

References

{{Surname, Epstein Ashkenazi surnames German-language surnames Yiddish-language surnames