Surname Lapidus - Meaning and Origin
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Lapidus: What does the surname Lapidus mean?
The last name Lapidus is a Jewish surname of Ashkenazi origin, originating from the Hebrew לֵפִידוֹת, meaning “alabaster box.” Historically, lapidus was most likely a trade name taken on by someone dealing with alabaster boxes, which were typically used for storing and carrying important documents in the Middle Ages.
The name Lapidus first appears in the 16th century in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and the Ukraine. It is also documented in Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania. In the 19th century, many Jews of this surname emigrated to the United States and settled in major cities, such as New York.
Many famous people have this surname, such as New Yorker fashion designer Stan Lapidus, Toronto lawyer and social activist Martin Lapidus, and Moscow businessman Eduard Lapidus. The American television show Philly Loves Lapidus, which ran from 2011–2012, also pays homage to the surname.
Today the Lapidus family continues to be a large and vibrant global network. Those with the surname are especially connected through the Lapidus International Facebook group, with over 10,000 members from all walks of life. They are united by a shared heritage and a common interest in their ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisLapidus: Where does the name Lapidus come from?
The last name Lapidus is believed to have originated in Hebrew from the word lapid, which means "torch" or "light." Today, the Lapidus last name has spread to many different parts of the world.
In Europe, Lapidus is a fairly common name in Russia, especially in the areas of Kiev, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg. It is also a quite popular name in Norway, where over 800 people have the surname. Additionally, there are significant Lapidus populations in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Italy.
The Lapidus name is also common in the United States. It is a very popular last name in the state of New York, where the highest number of people with the Lapidus name live. There are also large populations of this last name in California, Texas, and Florida.
In Latin America, the Lapidus surname is also widespread, especially in Brazil. Many Lapidus families have also migrated to Canada, Israel, and Australia.
Overall, the Lapidus surname is quite common today, with large populations of this name in Europe, the United States, Latin America, Canada, Israel, and Australia. It is likely that the vast majority of people with this surname are descended from a single family, given its widespread distribution.
Variations of the surname Lapidus
Lapidus is a surname that originated in either Poland, Lithuania or Russia. It is a Jewish surname, and various variants and spellings of it exist. Common variants include Lapidosh, Lapidos, Lapidoth, Lapidusch, Lapidus, Lepedus, Lapedus, Lapsedus, Lapideus, Lapidius and Lyepidus. It can also be written in the Russian form Lapedus or Lypedus, depending on the English or Russian spelling of the name.
Surnames of the same origin include Lebedus, Lepedus, Lapedus, Lapsedus, Lapideus, and Lapidusch. Some people may also spell it in the German form, “Lapidusch,” though this is problematic for an ethnic Jewish surname.
Due to the wide variety of surnames with the same origins, many can be confused with each other. For example, Lepedus and Lapedus are both eastern European surnames and were likely adopted by different branches of the family at different points in time.
Given the various spellings, variations, and alternate surnames that have sprung from the same origin, it can be difficult to trace one's exact family tree or line of ancestry when looking solely at surnames. Therefore, it is important to consider all variants of the surname when researching family histories.
Famous people with the name Lapidus
- Mårten Lapidus: Swedish contemporary modernist designer renowned for his cut diamond jewelry.
- Martin Lapidus: American architect and interior designer best known for designing The Bellagio in Las Vegas.
- Miles Lapidus: American film producer, known for the 2014 horror movie, OUIJA.
- Mark Lapidus: South African lawyer and human rights activist.
- Irina Lapidus: Russian journalist and feminist activist.
- Vladimir Lapidus: Russian poet, journalist and critic.
- Anya Lapidus-Kolcun: American travel journalist, author and public speaker.
- Rachel Lapidus: American novelist and short-story writer.
- Mary Lapidus: American public health professor and researcher.
- Zvi Lapidus: Israeli mechanical engineer and professor.