I hope I don't offend anyone, but I need help finding broad name lists.

[The Backlash Cometh]

I'm looking for a surname for one of my characters who happens to be Jewish. Except, I'm looking for a Jewish name which is not easily recognized as Jewish. Some names are like Cohen, or names ending in stein. Most lists on the internet are common Jewish names so they're easy to pick out. I'm looking for something less familiar.

I'm also looking for the same qualities in a Scottish name. In other words, no Mac type names.

Does anybody have good sources?

[sybylla]

1. Check out some of the genealogy websites

Rootsweb.com used to have family name list-serves. Check with them. It used to be that you could pick the list you want to look at by the name from a huge alphabetical list. It wouldn't be categorized by ethnicity, but you might be able to find some of the more unique Jewish names - especially those of non-Germanic origin, which seem to be the most common.

Then there are loads of Scottish and Irish genealogy sites. They would likely have name lists sorted even by county in some cases with vast family and local histories. It's probably safe to say you'd find something similar with Jewish genealogy, but they came from so many more places and have names that often represent that.

I know there are also surname "dictionaries" but they usually only list the most common surnames. This might be a good source for Scottish names though. These you should be able to find at most libraries.

[Petrushka]

2. Here ya go --->

http://turnersusa.wordpress.com/possible-jewish-surnames/

http://www.fife.50megs.com/scottish-surnames.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Thanks everyone, Really appreciate it.

[SheilaT]

4. For Jewish use Newman.

My ex was a Newman, and they came from Poland, were totally Jewish, and the name Newman was acquired in the mid-19th century, so far as he could determine, when Jews there (it was at the time the Austrio-Hungarian Empire)were finally allowed to have surnames.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Thanks Sheila!

[TygrBright]

6. Scottish name rarely recognized as Scottish: Anderson

It's very Scottish, but most people think "Swedish or Norwegian." In fact, a lot of "Norwegian" names are found in abundance in Scotland, for exactly the reasons you might think.

helpfully,
Bright

[Rhiannon12866]

7. You can probably get some good help/advice here:

These folks know quite a lot. :hi:

Ancestry/Genealogy Group
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=331