Surname Zur - Meaning and Origin
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Zur: What does the surname Zur mean?
The last name Zur (or also spelled Tsur, Zupar, Zopar, and other similar variations) is a Jewish surname with roots in Eastern European countries in particular, areas of the former Yugoslavia. In Hebrew, Zur refers to the ‘rock’ or ‘stone’ of the region, which could, in turn, suggest that Zur was a geographical region where the surname originated.
That said, the word Zur can also mean ‘bear’ in Yiddish, which is a variation of German. It stands to reason, then, that this could have been a nickname given to someone who possessed some of the characteristics associated with a bear.
In terms of surname distribution, there are concentrations of the Zur family name throughout Eastern Europe including the Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and even Russia. When it comes to the United States, the largest communities of Zur-surnamed families are found in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, California, and Massachusetts.
The coat of arms for Zur-surnamed families is a shield with two black wolves or lions, each with a silver tongue, resting upon three horizontal branches. The crest is an arm holding a broken lance with a pennant of three black colors on either side of the shield. These symbols of strength and unity remain incorporated in modern-day Zur family coats of arms to this day.
Overall, the Zur surname is a testament to the strong cultural and familial heritage of the Jewish diaspora. It is a reminder that even when families must travel long distances, whether short or long, the ties of connection stay with them.
Order DNA origin analysisZur: Where does the name Zur come from?
The surname Zur is predominantly found in Central and Eastern European countries such as Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. It is also found in Jewish communities in these countries and in the United States and other Western countries, albeit in smaller numbers. The origin of the name Zur is uncertain but it is likely to have come from the German and Polish word for "sour" or "bitter", possibly originating from an occupational name for someone who sold sour beer.
In Germany, the surname Zur is found mainly in the northwestern region of the Rheinland. According to the 2020 Meyers Gazetteer, the surname is also found in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. In Ukraine, the surname Zur is fairly ubiquitous, and is especially abundant in the cities of Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv.
In Poland, the surname Zur is rare, being found mainly in the northern part of the country. In the United States, the surname is found mainly among Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe in urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.
The surname Zur may have also been adopted from other Jewish immigrants into Eastern Europe from Western Europe or other countries, as well as from people who adopted the name from the German word. Thus, the surname Zur is currently found in many countries around the world, an indication of the family's diverse origins and travels.
Variations of the surname Zur
The surname Zur is most commonly found among the Jewish people of Eastern Europe. It has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including: Zurav, Zuraw, Pur, Puraw, Zurawski, Zir, Zira, Zirah, Zuri, Zuria, Zuriar, Zuriav, Zurka, Zurkov, and Zurn.
The surname Zur likely originated from the word “zir” meaning “broom” or “broom maker” in several Slavic languages. As a result, many of the surnames derived from Zur likely refer to a person who made brooms as their profession. Other theories suggest that the surname may have arisen as a result of a local village named Zara or even as a nickname from the Hebrew word “tzedek” meaning “Righteous”.
It is also possible that some branches of the Zur family changed the spelling of their surname in order to distinguish themselves from others. For example, the Puraw family was an offshoot of the Zur family. They chose to adopt a unique spelling of their surname in order to distinguish themselves from other members of the same family.
Regardless of its origin, the surname Zur continues to be found in many parts of Europe, especially among those of Ashkenazi and Sephardic descent. It is a unique and fascinating surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Zur
- Abba Zur: an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the National Religious Party.
- Bettina Zur-Szepanski: a German actress and voice actress, who has provided voice-over performances mainly for children's films and television programs.
- Chava Zur: an Israeli television and radio host who helped create several Israeli radio programs.
- Galia Zur: an Israeli model, TV host, and journalist, who is also the founder and CEO of the Israeli Model Management Agency.
- Gusti Zur: an Israeli diplomat who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 1959 to 1962.
- Mordechai Zur: an Israeli jurist, judge, academic, farmer, journalist, and politician, who served as a member of the Knesset for the Alignment and Mapam parties.
- Nurit Zur: an Israeli playwright and director whose numerous works have been performed in theaters all around the world.
- Orly Zur: an Israeli author and professor of literature and language at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev who has written several books and articles on comparative literature and literary theory.
- Sharon Zur: a Jewish Israeli singer, songwriter, and guitarist who performs mostly in Hebrew and English.
- Sivan Zur: an Israeli audio engineer, who won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in 2019.