Cohen (surname)
Cohen (Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, kōhēn, "priest") is a Jewish surname[1] of biblical origins (see: Kohen). It is a very common Jewish surname, and the following information discusses only that origin.
Bearing the surname indicates that one's patrilineal ancestors were priests in the Temple of Jerusalem. A single such priest was known as a Kohen, and the hereditary caste descending from these priests is collectively known as the Kohanim.[2] As multiple languages were acquired through the Jewish diaspora, the surname acquired dozens of variants.
Some Kohanim have added a secondary appellation to their surname, so as to distinguish themselves from other Kohanim --- such as Cohen-Scali of Morocco, who trace their lineage to Zadok,[3] and Cohen-Maghari (Meguri) of Yemen, who trace their lineage to the first ward, Jehoiariv, in the division of twenty-four priestly wards.
Being a Kohen imposes some limitations: by Jewish law a Kohen may not marry a divorced woman, and may not marry a proselyte (someone who converted to Judaism).[4] Nor should an observant Kohen come into contact with the dead.[5]
An effort to trace whether or not people named 'Cohen' actually have a common genetic origin has been undertaken, using a genealogical DNA test associated with the Cohen Modal Haplotype.[6]
Contents
See also[edit]
- Coen
- Cohn
- Kahn
- Kohn
- Transliterated via Russian language
- Cowen (disambiguation)
References[edit]
- ^ Schreiber, Mordecai (2011). The Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia. Taylor Trade Publications.
- ^ Donin, Rabbi Haim Halevy (1972). To Be A Jew. A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life. Basic Books. p. 198.
- ^ Shlomo bar Yosef ha-Cohen Atzvan, Ma'alot Shlomo, Jerusalem 1985, p. 56 in PDF (Hebrew)
- ^ Donin p.291
- ^ Donin p.304
- ^ Sources for the genetic studies are given in the article Y-chromosomal Aaron.
External links[edit]
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