Fierstein
A German surname derived from the words "feier" (celebration) and "stein" (stone), possibly referring to those who lived near a stone used for festivities.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Fierstein. That puts it at #68,345 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fierstein 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
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#68,345
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
288
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 288 bearers of the surname Fierstein in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 68345th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fierstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fierstein
The surname Fierstein is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, originating from the Germanic regions of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Yiddish word "feyer," meaning "fire," which may have originally referred to a person who worked with fire, such as a blacksmith or a baker.
The earliest recorded instances of the Fierstein name can be traced back to the 16th century in various German and Polish records. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Mordechai Fierstein, a Jewish scholar who lived in the city of Kraków, Poland, in the late 16th century.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Fierstein name appeared in various Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in German-speaking regions and Poland. Notable individuals with this surname include Rabbi Yitzchak Fierstein (1695-1768), a renowned Talmudic scholar from Frankfurt, Germany, and Leib Fierstein (1720-1795), a prominent merchant and community leader in Vilnius, Lithuania.
As Jewish communities faced persecution and expulsion from various European regions, many Fiersteins migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually to the United States and other countries. One of the earliest recorded Fiersteins in America was Solomon Fierstein, who arrived in New York City from Germany in the late 18th century.
In the 19th century, the Fierstein name gained prominence in the United States, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. These include Isaac Fierstein (1812-1889), a successful businessman and philanthropist in Philadelphia, and Sarah Fierstein (1835-1912), a writer and social activist who advocated for women's rights and education.
Other notable Fiersteins throughout history include playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein (born 1954), whose works like "Torch Song Trilogy" and "Hairspray" have earned him numerous accolades, including Tony Awards. Additionally, there was Jacob Fierstein (1874-1954), a Russian-born American journalist and author who wrote extensively about Jewish culture and history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fierstein
Among Census respondents with the surname Fierstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%.
The bar chart below shows how Fierstein 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 Fierstein surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Fierstein 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 | #68,345 | #68,345 | 0.0% |
| Count | 288 | 288 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Fierstein bearers went from 288 to 288 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #68,345 to #68,345.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Fierstein
FAQ
Fierstein surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Fierstein?
The surname Fierstein holds position #68,345 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Fierstein surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fierstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.6%. 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.