Rothstein
A German and Jewish surname built from words for “red” and “stone,” originally describing a place or house sign.
The #8,458 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 79,084 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Rothstein is made from German elements meaning “red” (rot/roth) and “stone” (Stein). In surname use, it most likely began as a name for someone living by a notable red stone, rock, or boundary marker, or as a house-name based on such a sign. In Jewish surname use, it could also reflect adoption of an existing German-style place or ornamental name built from the same words.
History
The name appears in German-speaking areas and was also adopted by Ashkenazi Jewish families, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Spellings with "th" reflect older German orthography, where "th" was commonly used in some names even when pronounced simply as "t." It became established in the United States through immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The "th" in Rothstein is a historical spelling, not a sign that the name was ever pronounced with an English-style "th" sound.
From the historical record
“Hrodstein: Rothstein. Rodacar: Rothacker. Hrodowald; Rohdewald — Rothwald”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen