Feinstein
A Jewish surname of German origin, meaning "fine stone," likely referring to a gemstone or precious stone.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,736 Americans carry the last name Feinstein. That puts it at #10,050 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 91,744 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Feinstein surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.7K
1 in 91,744
Census rank
#10,050
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,205 bearers of the surname Feinstein in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10050th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Feinstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Feinstein
The surname Feinstein originated from the German language and has its roots in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. It is derived from the German word "fein," meaning "fine" or "delicate," combined with the suffix "-stein," which means "stone." This combination suggests a potential connection to a person's occupation or place of residence.
The earliest known record of the Feinstein surname can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Rabbi Mordechai Feinstein, who lived in the 16th century and was a respected scholar and teacher in the Jewish community.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Feinstein name appeared in various historical records and documents across Germany and Poland. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive term related to a person's occupation or physical characteristics.
One notable individual with the Feinstein surname was Moses Feinstein (1895-1986), a renowned Orthodox Jewish scholar and posek (legal decisor) who was widely respected for his expertise in Jewish law and his extensive writings on a wide range of topics.
Another prominent figure with this surname was Dianne Feinstein (born 1933), a former United States Senator from California who served from 1992 to 2023. She was also the first woman to serve as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
In the 19th century, the Feinstein surname began to appear in various parts of Europe and North America, as Jewish communities migrated and settled in new regions. One noteworthy individual from this period was Isaac Feinstein (1842-1903), a Lithuanian-born American rabbi and author who served as the chief rabbi of Congregation Beit Aharon V'Israel in St. Louis, Missouri.
Additionally, the Feinstein name was associated with the Russian-born American businessman and philanthropist Wolf Feinstein (1865-1943), who made significant contributions to the development of the Jewish community in Chicago.
Throughout its history, the Feinstein surname has been associated with various professions, including scholars, rabbis, businesspeople, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Feinstein
Among Census respondents with the surname Feinstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Feinstein bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Feinstein surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Feinstein surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,050 | #10,050 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,205 | 3,205 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.09 | 1.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Feinstein bearers went from 3,205 to 3,205 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #10,050 to #10,050.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Feinstein
FAQ
Feinstein surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Feinstein?
The surname Feinstein holds position #10,050 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,736 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Feinstein surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Feinstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.