Finkelstein (Hebrew: פֿינק(ע)לשׁטײַן or פינקלשׁט(י)ין, Russian: Финкельштейн) is a German and Yiddish surname originating from Old High German funko (spark) and stein (stone). Funkelstein meant pyrite (Adler German-English Dictionary, 1864). The Yiddish version of pyrite, finkelstein, could have denoted bareketh, one of the 12 tribe stones of High Priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:17).
Notable people with the surname include:
Anthony Finkelstein (born 1959), British software engineerArthur Fields (Abe Finkelstein), American singer and songwriterArthur J. Finkelstein, US Republican political activistAvram Finkelstein, gay rights activistClive Finkelstein, Information Engineering pioneerDavid Finkelstein (1929-2016), professor of Physics at the Georgia Institute of TechnologyDavid Finkelstein, professor of Philosophy at University of ChicagoDaniel Finkelstein, British journalistEric Finkelstein, American health economistIsrael Finkelstein (born 1949), Israeli archaeologistJacob Finkelstein (Jackie Fields), American world champion welterweight & Olympic champion featherweight Hall of Fame boxerLouis Finkelstein (1895-1991), Talmud scholarLouis Finkelstein (artist) (1923-2000), painter and Queens College (CUNY) professorMax Finkelstein (died 1940), New York City policeman.Meir Finkelstein, cantor and composer of contemporary Jewish liturgical musicMel Finkelstein, American photojournalistMenachem Finkelstein, Israeli district judge, Israel's Military Advocate General from 2000 to 2004.Norman Finkelstein, American political scientist and writer.Norman Finkelstein (poet), poet and writerPeter Max (Peter Finkelstein)Salo FinkelsteinWilliam Zorach (born Finkelstein)