Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Polish, Ukrainian, and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) : from Polish, Ukrainian, and eastern Yiddish pasternak ‘parsnip’ (via Middle High German from Latin pastinaca), apparently a nickname or in the case of the Jewish surname, an ornamental name.

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe