About us
The Lifshitz surname holds an exceptional place in Jewish genealogy, documented as far back as the 14th century, centuries earlier than most Ashkenazi surnames in Eastern Europe, which were typically adopted from the early 1800s onwards.
The surname is also referenced in historical records from the 16th century in the town of Slutzk (present-day Belarus). This unusually early surname adoption suggests prominent familial or rabbinical lineages and a longstanding tradition of scholarly significance.
Originating possibly from towns such as Liebschütz in Thuringia, Leobschütz in Upper Silesia, or Liebeschitz in Bohemia, the surname has diversified into multiple variations—including Lipschitz, Lipshitz, Lifschitz, and Lipschutz—reflecting the geographical dispersion and linguistic influences across generations.
By combining advanced genetic research with historical genealogical records, the Lifshitz Y-DNA Project endeavors to reveal how these widespread families might be interconnected, tracing their migration and settlement patterns from medieval origins to modern communities worldwide. We actively encourage the use of genetic genealogy as an additional and powerful tool to complement traditional Lifshitz family research.
- Specify your earliest known patrilineal Lifshitz ancestor(s) and the town they were from under the preferences tab of your FTDNA settings.
- Where known, also include the specific town of origin by latitude/longitude in your settings. This will mark your town on the member distribution map.
- Link your Family Tree on FTDNA to MyHeritage, or upload a GEDCOM from another site. Alternatively, please reach out to the project admins if you have any other family tree or relevant documents to share.