Finkelstein surname: meaning, census count and records | FamilyCrests

The Finkelstein surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,591 people carried this name — #7,258 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 64,100 people counted. That is down 4% from 4,781 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Finkelstein surname

Borrowed from Yiddish פֿינקעלשטיין (finkelshteyn), from Old High German funko (“spark”) with stein (“stone”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Finkelstein» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 372 people named Finkelstein live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 240
Buenos Aires Province 78
Santa Fe 32
Córdoba 22

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 152 people named Finkelstein.

29 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 21 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 29
Paris 73
Yvelines 14
Isère 6
Nord 4
Val-d’Oise 3
Allier 3
Oise 2
Alpes-Maritimes 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Belgium’s population register

At least 30 people named Finkelstein live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Antwerp.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Antwerp 30

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In Poland’s population register

20 people named Finkelstein have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 101 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 3 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Kuyavian-Pomeranian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Kuyavian-Pomeranian 16
Masovian 2
Holy Cross 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In print

Finkelstein in American newspapers,
1893–1915.

Newspaper page from The Tupelo Journal carrying the name Finkelstein
The Tupelo Journal 1915-04-02
Newspaper page from The Helena Independent carrying the name Finkelstein
The Helena Independent 1893-10-24
Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Finkelstein
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1908-09-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 10,601 pages in all carry the name.

Who carried it

People named Finkelstein,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Liz Finkelstein d. 1992 · physiotherapist
  • Sonia Finkelstein d. 1979
  • Jettka Finkelstein 1861– · singer
  • Meta Finkelstein 1864–1943
  • Heinrich Finkelstein 1865–1942 · pediatrician
  • Mordko Finkelstein 1869–1942

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Finkelstein.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Finkelstein is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See what a volume holds
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