Surname Altman - Meaning and Origin

Discovering Ancestral Roots & Interconnected Histories: The Altman Story Through iGENEA DNA Analysis

Stepping into the realm of my ancestry with iGENEA DNA analysis, the unraveling of my family name Altman felt like a deep-dive into history. The tracing of the Ashkenazi Jewish origins, migration patterns, and global dispersion, presented an intriguing journey resonating with resilience, adaptability and a sense of shared identity.

R. Altman

Altman: What does the surname Altman mean?

The surname Altman is of Ashkenazic Jewish and German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "altman" which translates to "old man" in English. The name was typically given to someone who was wise beyond their years or appeared older than they were, indicating maturity or wisdom. It may have also been used to distinguish between two people with the same first name, with the older being referred to as the "Altman". The surname is fairly common among Jewish communities, especially in Eastern Europe. Variations of the name Altman include Altmann, Altmon, Alltman, Aultman among others. Many famous people bear the name Altman, such as American film director Robert Altman, and Russian music critic and historian, Abram Altman. Please note that the meaning of surnames can be complex and can vary between cultures and over time. Even though this is a widely accepted interpretation, the exact origin might be different.

Altman: Where does the name Altman come from?

The Altman surname has multiple origins due to its prevalence in numerous cultures. It is primarily of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin and is derived from the personal name "Altman", which means "old man". It was typically given as a name of endearment or respect to a senior or elder within a family or community rather than relating to the person's age. In Russia and other East Slavic countries, the name was used by Jews and translated to "old man" or "wise man."

Today, the surname Altman is common in many parts of the world, including the United States, Germany, Russia, and Israel. In America, the name is prevalent among both Ashkenazi Jewish and non-Jewish communities, largely due to generations of immigration from Germany and Eastern Europe. It is also quite common in Israel due to a large population of Ashkenazi Jews. In Germany and Russia, the surname can still be found but not as frequently as in the U.S and Israel.

Variations of the surname Altman

Altman is a surname of Jewish (Ashkenazic) and German origin, derived from the elements "alt" meaning "old" and "mann" meaning "man". Various spellings of the surname have been noted over the years including Altmann, Althman, Altmon, and Altamon. The plurality form, Altmans, is also sometimes used.

Among German speakers, it's sometimes modified to Altermann or Alterman, also inferring the meaning “old man”. In addition, in the Jewish community, the surname could potentially be a variant of the Hebrew surname Alterman, derived from the Hebrew name "Alter", meaning "old". This surname was traditionally given to a child born after the death of a grandfather.

Moreover, the family name Altmann is part of a large group of surnames, developed in the Middle Ages, called hereditary surnames. This group includes names derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads, or names derived from physical features, such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

In some cases, phonemic changes over time or localization might have led to variations in the pronunciation and spelling of the surname.

Please note, however, that two people with the name Altman may not necessarily share the same origin or lineage.

Famous people with the name Altman

• Robert Altman: An acclaimed American film director known for films like "MASH" and "Nashville."
• Sidney Altman: A Canadian-American molecular biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989.
• Honus Altman: An early 20th-century baseball player, often referred to by his nickname 'Hans.'
• Mark Altman: He is a producer and scriptwriter known for his work in science fiction and horror genres.
• Rick Altman: Known as a film scholar who coined the term "semiotic genre analysis."
• Scott Altman: A former NASA astronaut who piloted and commanded several Space Shuttle missions.
• John Altman: An English actor and singer, known for playing Nick Cotton on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
• Benjamin Altman: The founder of B. Altman and Company, a New York City department store.
• Jeanne Altman: Renowned American behavioral ecologist known for her extensive work on baboon societies.
• Sam Altman: American entrepreneur, angel investor, and president of Y Combinator.
• Dottie Altman: An American artist known for her collage and abstract works.
• Nathan Altman: A Jewish, Russian and Soviet, avant-garde artist, Cubist painter, stage designer and book illustrator.

Other surnames

AltmaierAltmannAltmayerAltmayr