FAMILY NAMES
Doing genealogical research sometimes requires an understanding of the modern usage and spelling of names. Spelling of Jewish surnames was rarely consistent even during the 20th century in the United States. It was an eye opener to me that there is no "H" in the Cyrillic alphabet used in Russia (and Poland under Russian domination). Therefore, a number of my ancestors were "Gersberg" or sometimes spelled "Gerzberg". Also, apparently the root of my surname is "Girsh" ("hirsch" in Yiddish) which meant "stag" combined with "berg" (mountain in German and Yiddish) . This may mean that my family name should be "Stag mountain" or perhaps "Deer Mountain" or "Deerhill". Maybe there are some Deerhills yet to be discovered and added to this tree.

Utilizing surnames also limits the search in time. Jews in Russia, Prussia, Poland and Austria didn't begin adopting surnames until 1805 (Austria) through 1826 (Kingdom of Poland). Many children never learned their surnames. Others were dramatically changed upon arrival at Ellis Island or other ports of embarkation after leaving the "old country" because many of the immigrants had only spoken their surnames and had not written it previously.

Vital records including birth. marriage and death were recorded in various languages and in various forms. Civil vital registration began in 1808 in Russian Poland (also known as the Kingdom of Poland or Congress Poland). Polish was the language used to record vital records from 1808 through 1868. From 1868, this area of Poland kept records in Russian until 1918 when Poland regained its independence. I have attempted to give the roots of names where I found them although other roots are likely. I also provide the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex Code System code number for each name. This system allows searching for names where the exact spelling is unknown. Surnames are grouped by the way they sound with special attention to Slavic and other Eastern European names.

Alimansky (D-M Code 086645)
May be derived from aalijm which is Hebrew for strong.
Berinstein, var. Ber, Berman, Burshstyn, Berinshtyjn, Burstein, Burshtstein, Burstyn. (D-M Code 796436 or 794360)

Derived from the given name, Ber, which was Yiddish for "bear". Probable suffix in the original compound surname was "shetjn" which translates as "stone". This is an artificial compound surname.
It is possible that the name was actually Bronstein ("brown stone") or Barstein ("pear stone").

Berman, The Berman name given to Harris Berman upon arrival in the United States actually replaced Berelovitch (son of Berel) which is remembered by some descendants as his name in Poland. Interestingly, his brother gave his last name as Yudelovitch (son of Yudel) which was changed to Lewis upon their arrival in the United States. It is conjectured that these sons were given different surnames to take advantage of the first born exception to service in the Czar's armies.

Blumenthal, var. Blyumental, Blumental (D-M Code 786638)
German origin. Translated as "flower valley".
Bugaisky, Var. Bugaj (D-M Code 754500)
From Russian for a "big and vigorous fellow".
Cohen, var. Kohn, Kahan, Kahn. (D-M Code 556000 or 45600)
From the Hebrew "Kohen",the priestly tribe of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Dynenson, var. Dinanson, Dineson. (D-M Code 366460)
Derived from the given name Dine (Yiddish). The original Hebrew form of this name is Dijoh (Genesis 30:21).
Ellenbogen, var. Elenbogen, Katzenelenbogen. (D-M Code 086756)
May be from the German for "elbow" but a number of the modern Ellenbogens are descendents of Meir ben Issac (1482-1562) who was born in the town of Katzenellenbogen. Among his grandchildren was Saul Wahl, the legendary Polish "king for a night'.
Elson, var. Elin, Ele'vich. (D-M Code 084600)
From the Hebrew given name Eliyohu. Englebardt, Var. Engle, Engel (D-M Code 065879)
From the given name in German or Yiddish for angel.
Ferber, var. Farber (D-M Code 797900)
From Yiddish for "dyer". Fleisher, var. Flejysher (D-M Code 784900)
From Yiddish for "butcher". Friedman, var. Frejdman, Frejd. (D-M Code 793660)
From the Yiddish "freyd" or "joy".
Ganeles (D-M Code 568400)
From given name Khana, in Hebrew the original name was Hanoh (1 Samuel 1:2) variant of this name was Gana.
Gelb (D-M Code 587000)
German for "yellow".
Gellis (D-M Code 584000)
Maybe from the Yiddish word Gejik which means "saint".
Gewirtzman, var. Gewirtz, Givertz, Gavertz, Givertsman, Gvertzman, Gwircman (D-M Code 579466)
Adopted from the Yiddish word for spice. When combined with the suffix "man" this quite often was referred to an occupation. Thus, Spiceman or Spiceseller might be the translated versions.
Goldberg, var. Goldenberg (D-M Code 583795)
From German for gold mountain.
Grossman (D-M Code 594660)
From the German for "big".
Gura (D-M Code 590000)
From the village of Gory, Gor or Gury
Gurwitz, var. Gurvitz, Gorovitz (D-M Code 597400)
From the town of Horovice.
Hershberg, var. Gersberg, Gershberg, Girshberg, Gurshberg, Girsh, Hirschberg, Herschberg, Herzberg, Girschenberg, Nirshberg, Nirtzberg (D-M Code 594795)
Adopted from the given name "Girsh" (Yiddish equivalent of "hirsch" which means "deer" or "stag") combined with the German word for "mountain".
Katz, var. Kots, Kotz (D-M Code 540000)
Abbreviation for "Koyhehn Tzadik" or "priest of righteousness". This abbreviation has been used by Kohanim since the 15th century.
Kaufman, var. Kaufmann (D-M Code 576000)
Commonly thought to be related to the German word for merchant (Kaufmann), this Jewish surname is more likely from the given name Jacob or Yakov.
Kestin, var. Kastin, Kasten (D-M Code 543600)
From the Yiddish for "box" or "case".
Kipnes, var. Kipnis, Karponos (D-M Code 576400)
From the Ukrainian for "flat nosed man".
Koblenz (D-M Code 578640)
From the German town of Koblenz.
Leventhal (D-M Code 876380)
German for "lion's valley".
Levine, var. Levy, Levin (D-M Code 876000)
A member of the Levite tribe.
Pittel, var. Pytel, Pitel (D-M Code 738000)
From the Ukrainian or Byleorussian word "pytel" a machine for sifting grain or the coarse cloth used in this machine.
Rapowitz, var. Rapovitch, Rapowicz (D-M Code 977400)
Derived from the German word "Rappe" which is German for raven.
Roth (D-M Code 930000)
May be from the German word "Rot" for red.
Sharaf, var. Sharf (D-M Code 497000)
From the Yiddish word "sharf" which means "spirited".
Siegel, var. Sigal, Segal, Segel, Sygal (D-M Code 458000)
Abbreviation of Hebrew "S Gan Lwijoh", associate of the Levitic order. This has been added to their names by Levites since the 11th century.
Terespolski, var. Terespol'skij, Teres, Terrace (D-M Code 394784)
From the estate or private town of Terespol.