Litvak (surname)

Litvak is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is a regional ethnonym derived from "Litvak" (also transliterated as Litwak), which refers to a Jew originating from Lithuania, Belarus, and parts of northeastern Poland and western Russia; broadly speaking, the historical territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The term "Litvak" historically implied more than just geographical origin. It often carried connotations relating to specific cultural and religious practices, particularly adherence to a distinct form of Talmudic scholarship emphasizing rational analysis and rigorous argumentation (associated with the Misnagdim movement, which opposed Hasidism).

The surname therefore identifies the family's ancestral connection to this region and its associated cultural or religious traditions. Variations in spelling may occur due to transliteration from Yiddish or Hebrew. Related surnames include, but are not limited to, Litwin, Litvinoff, and variations thereof. The prevalence of the surname can provide insights into historical Jewish migration patterns from the Lithuanian region.