Explore the Family Name Finkelstein
The meaning of Finkelstein
Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial compound name, literally ‘sparkle stone’, from Yiddish finkl ‘sparkle’ + stein ‘stone’. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Meyer, Hyman, Nachum, Aron, Chaim, Emanuel, Mayer, Alter, Avram, Bluma.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Finkelstein in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Finkelstein saw a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 6540th most common surname, but by 2010, it had dropped to 7258th place, marking a decline of approximately 10.98%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased during this period, from 4781 in 2000 to 4591 in 2010, which signifies a decrease of around 3.97%. Similarly, the proportion of people named Finkelstein per 100,000 population fell from 1.77 to 1.56, a drop of about 11.86%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,540 | #7,258 | -10.98% |
| Count | 4,781 | 4,591 | -3.97% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.77 | 1.56 | -11.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Finkelstein
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census shows that among people with the surname Finkelstein, the majority identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, though there was a slight decrease in this percentage over the decade, from 96.86% to 95.49%. The next highest increase was recorded in the Hispanic category, which grew from 1.61% in 2000 to 2.48% in 2010, an increase of 54.04%. Meanwhile, representation in the Asian/Pacific Islander category nearly doubled, increasing from 0.48% to 0.91%, an increase of 89.58%. Individuals identifying with two or more races made a slight increase from 0.69% to 0.72%, while those identifying as Black saw a small decrease, from 0.25% to 0.24%. Lastly, those who identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native rose from 0.10% to 0.15%, a 50% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.86% | 95.49% | -1.41% |
| Hispanic | 1.61% | 2.48% | 54.04% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.48% | 0.91% | 89.58% |
| Two or More Races | 0.69% | 0.72% | 4.35% |
| Black | 0.25% | 0.24% | -4% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.1% | 0.15% | 50% |
Finkelstein ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Finkelstein is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 66.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (11.9%) and French & German (6.3%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Chinese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 66.8% |
| British & Irish | 11.9% |
| French & German | 6.3% |
| Other | 15.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Finkelstein
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Finkelstein have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 27.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 27.10% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 27.10% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 26.40% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 26.40% |
What Finkelstein haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Finkelstein is G-M377, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup G-M377 is descended from haplogroup G-M201. Other common haplogroups include J-P58 and E-M5021, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Goldberg, Friedman, Waldman, Rosenberg, Rosenfeld, Rubin, Mandel, Wasserman, Pearlman, Zuckerman.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Finkelstein surname are: K1a1b1a, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins G-M201Your maternal lineage may be linked to many people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
A few branches of haplogroup K, such as K1a9, K2a2a, and K1a1b1a, are specific to Jewish populations and especially to Ashkenazi Jews, whose roots lie in central and eastern Europe. These branches of haplogroup K are found at levels of 30% among the Ashkenazim. But they are also found at lower levels in Jewish populations from the Middle East and Africa, and among Sephardic Jews who trace their roots to medieval Spain. That indicates an origin of those K haplogroup branches in the Middle East before 70 AD, when the Roman destruction of Jerusalem scattered the Jewish people around the Mediterranean and beyond.About 1.7 million Ashkenazi Jews living today (nearly 20% of the population) share a single branch of the K haplogroup, K1a1b1a. The diversity of that haplogroup suggests that it arose in the Middle East between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago, and that everyone who shares it today could descend from a woman who lived as recently as 700 years ago. A similar pattern in two other K branches, K1a9 and K2a2, as well as the N1b branch of haplogroup N, has led researchers to conclude that 40% of the Ashkenazim living today – about 3.4 million people – could descend from as few as four women who lived within the last 2,000 years.
What do people with the surname Finkelstein have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Finkelstein" Surname 58.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Finkelstein" Surname 26.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Finkelstein" Surname 11.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Finkelstein" Surname 16.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Finkelstein?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Finkelstein are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition