Surname Rapoport - Meaning and Origin
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Rapoport: What does the surname Rapoport mean?
The last name Rapoport is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname which is derived from the German "Rapp" and "Porte," meaning "doorway" or "entrance." The name is likely derived from a profession involving gates or porticos.
In the 18th century, the name was very common in southern German towns. In fact, it is one of the most common Jewish surnames in Germany. The surname spread to other countries of Europe as the Jews reached out to many regions in search of protection from oppression. It also became popular in North America when Jews of German origin emigrated to these shores in the 19th and 20th centuries.
In modern times, the name Rapoport is derived from various ancestral lines. The most common of these is the surname of Leviticus Rapoport of the 16th century, a well-known Jewish educator from Lithuania. Other variants such as Rapppaport, Rapolt and Rappeport have also been found.
The surname Rapoport is now an international name, found in countries such as the United States, Russia, Canada, Germany, Poland, Australia, the U.K., France, Mexico, Romania, and Israel, among others. It may be linked to many different professions, ranging from rabbis to historians, scientists, and engineers. Today, the name is associated with innovation, resilience, and perseverance — a testament to the strong legacy of the Jews who used it all those years ago.
Order DNA origin analysisRapoport: Where does the name Rapoport come from?
The last name Rapoport is mostly associated with Jewish families of European descent. It is most commonly found in Jewish communities in the United States, Israel, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine.
In the United States it is primarily found in New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida. New York City is the epicenter of the surname, with many descendants of immigrants who arrived in the early 1900s. Most are Ashkenazi Jews, descendants of Jews who migrated from Central and Eastern Europe.
In Israel, the last name Rapoport is fairly commonplace in many cities, but is particularly prevalent in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. The majority of Rapoports in Israel are descendants of Holocaust survivors who made aliyah, or immigrated, after World War II.
In Poland, the surname can be traced back centuries when Jews were permitted to reside throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In Belarus, Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine, many members of the Rapoport family can be found, primarily in urban areas. Today, they are prominent in business and politics, as well as the scientific and medical fields.
Overall, the Rapoport family is an integral part of many communities across a number of countries. Today, many family members still share a sense of strong cultural pride, along with a commitment to preserving their rich heritage.
Variations of the surname Rapoport
Rapoport is a surname with multiple different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. It is of Ashkenazi Jewish and Slavic origin and is believed to come from the Hebrew word for scapegoat or goat. Variations of the surname include Rapaport, Rappaport, Rapower, Rapaporte, Repaport, Rapoporte, and Rapoporty. There are also variations in spelling, such as Rappaport, Rapaport, and Rupaport.
In the United States, variants of this name are often changed to RapPNP, RapPON, or RapPOPS. In Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Switzerland, derivatives of this name include Ruhhport, Rieppport, Rappport, and Ripoport. In Russia and Ukraine, variants include Rapoport, Repoport, Repoporty, Rapavort, Rapaporty, and Revoev.
Although there is no definitive origin of the Rapoport surname, many historians believe that it could have been derived from the German words “rowe” (shepherd) and “port” (gate). This could potentially explain why some variations of this name have been found to be spelled RapRPP, RapPOP, RpepPOP, RheppPOP, Rheppport, or RPreviously.
Throughout the years, the Rapoport surname has seen various spellings, variants, and derivations depending on the country and language. As the years pass, so has the migration of people, creating more and more opportunities for new variants to develop.
Famous people with the name Rapoport
- Jack Rapoport– Former American sportscaster.
- Stuart Rapoport: Popular American comedian.
- Alex Rapoport: Russian business magnate and philanthropist.
- Abba Rapoport: Russian Hebrew scholar.
- Alexander Rapoport: Journalist, publicist and human rights activist.
- Mark Rapoport: American mathematician.
- Anatoly Rapoport: Soviet Mathematician.
- Myrna Rapoport: American comedienne and actress.
- Naomi Rapoport: Award-winning American sculptor.
- Olga Rapoport: Noted Jewish-American journalist.
- Yonah Rapoport: Russian author and teacher.
- Edward Rapoport: Noted American political scientist.
- Richmond Rapoport: American attorney, civil rights advocate and author.
- Irina Rapoport: Russian artist and art historian.
- Jonah Rapoport: American television and film producer.
- Amy Rapoport: Leading American children’s literature scholar.
- Frank Rapoport: Renowned American gynecologist.
- Julius Rapoport: Jewish American doctor and immigrant rights activist.
- Benedict Rapoport: Jewish American civil engineer and inventor.
- Willi Rapoport: German-born American sociologist.