Show ContentsGlassberg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Glassberg

What does the name Glassberg mean?

The family name of a Jew was typically left to the individual person up until the end of the 18th century. Majority, especially in Germany and eastern Europe, still followed the custom having their father’s name included in their name. Whereas, Jews in Spain, Portugal, and Italy had already adopted the practice of using fixed family names. 1

One of the most common traditions for adopting surnames in Medieval Europe was for a person to assume a name that clearly illustrated his occupation. It is probable that the surname Glassberg was such an occupational name. However, this name and its variants was also held by those who did were not of an occupation related to glass in anyway; they most probably held such a name ornamentally in order to fit in with the non-Jewish majority in the regions in which they lived.

Glassberg Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Glass, Glassman, Gluzband (glass ribbon), Glasberg, Glassberg, Gluzberg (glass hill), Glassgold (glass gold), Glassmann (glass man), Glassheib (pane of glass), Gluzschneider (glass cutter) and many more.


Contemporary Notables of the name Glassberg (post 1700) +

  • Richard H. Glassberg, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 9th District, 2002 2
  • Benjamin Glassberg, American politician, Delegate to Socialist National Convention from New York, 1920 3


  1. Kaganoff, Benzion C. A Dictionary of Jewish names and their history. Schocken Books, 1977. Digital
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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