Surname Buchalter - Meaning and Origin

Buchalter: What does the surname Buchalter mean?

The surname Buchalter is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the German words 'buch', which translates to 'book', and 'alter', meaning 'old'. Thus, Buchalter can be interpreted as 'old book'. It was likely adopted as a surname by Jewish families involved in bookbinding, book selling, or any profession relating to books in some manner. It conveys an image of wisdom and respect earned through age and knowledge. The surname is relatively rare and is most commonly found among Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. Buchalter is also linked to several historical figures, the most famous one perhaps being Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter, a notorious American mobster who lived in the early 20th century.

Buchalter: Where does the name Buchalter come from?

The last name Buchalter is most commonly found in countries with a strong Jewish heritage, such as the United States, Israel, Austria, and Germany. In the United States, Buchalter is mainly found in New York, California, and Florida. In Austria and Germany, it is mostly found in large urban areas such as Vienna and Munich. Israel has the highest concentration of people with the last name Buchalter, and it is fairly common in Israel's major cities, such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

The ancestors of Buchalter families are believed to have been Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Lithuania and Poland who settled in Germany during the 1700s and 1800s. These families later spread to the United States and other countries as well.

The Buchalter name is associated with a long line of male rabbis, mainly from the cities of Podolia and Belaya Tserkov. Alex Buchalter is a well-known rabbinical figure, and he is currently the Rabbi Emeritus of East Midwood Jewish Center in Brooklyn, New York. Other notable Buchalters include Mechel Buchalter, a highly respected rabbi in Jerusalem, and Rabbi Zvi and Miriam Buchalter who were renowned leaders in the Jewish community of Cleveland, Ohio in the 1950s and 1960s.

In conclusion, the last name Buchalter is common in countries with a strong Jewish background, such as the United States, Israel, Austria, and Germany. It also has a long history of rabbinical figures from Podolia and Belaya Tserkov.

Variations of the surname Buchalter

Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Buchalter include Bachalter, Bochlter, Bochrawler, Bockaltar, Bocklalter, Bocklter, Bockolter, Bokaltar, Bokalter, Boklalter, Bokoltar, Bukalter, Bukoltar, Bukolter, and bulkalter.

Buchalter is a Jewish surname derived from the Yiddish word buchalter, which literally translates to bookkeeper or accountant in English. It was traditionally an occupational name most likely adopted by Jews who lived in Central and Eastern Europe, with records of the surname showing up in places such as Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus.

The spelling of the surname can vary among different countries, with Buchalter being most common in the United States and Bokalter in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This surname has also been recorded in other languages, including Boculter, Bokalter, Bochoter, Bucalter, and Bukoltar.

In addition to alternate spellings, other surnames are often associated with the Buchalter name. For instance, the German name Buchholder is derived from the same occupation, and is sometimes used in place of Buchalter. Other similar surnames include Buczkowski, Boukhlter, Bocholter, Boquelter, and Bocado.

Famous people with the name Buchalter

• Meyer Lansky (real name Maier Suchowlański), American mobster known as the "King of the Jewish Mob" who helped create the National Crime Syndicate in the United States.
• Arnold Rothstein, American businessman and gambler best known for helping to fix the 1919 World Series.
• Jacob Buchalter, founding member of organized crime organization Murder, Inc.
• Louis Buchalter, New York mobster and one of the founders of Murder, Inc.
• Jack “Greasy Thumb” Guzik, Chicago gangster and associate of Al Capone.
• Abner "Longy" Zwillman, New Jersey mob boss and member of the National Crime Syndicate.
• Irving Buchalter, American physician and psychoanalyst.
• William Theophilus Buchalter, American Christian minister and author.
• Hiram John Buchalter, American construction contractor and real estate developer.

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