Re: Jewish poker professionals
[ QUOTE ]
Parlahd Friedman?
The first name seems arabic to me, but the last name is pure Jew.
[/ QUOTE ]
No, it isn't. Friedman is a German name. Many Jewish surnames (including mine) are German, shared with non-Jews of German descent. The vice-principal at my high school was Mr. Friedman, and he was as Pennsylvania Dutch as they come.
The three most common Jewish surnames in the United States are Cohen (and variants), Levy and variants, and Miller (who knew?). For the record Miller was my ex-husband's name, and the Millers were German Catholic (Mueller originally).
Anyway, since Jews are matrilineal, the surname, if inherited from the father, is irrelevant. Senator Cohen of Maine is not Jewish because his mother wasn't, even though his father was.
|