Epstein

The surname Epstein (also Eppstein or Epshtein) is one of the oldest Ashkenazi Jewish family names. It is probably derived from the German town of Eppstein, in Hesse; the place-name was probably derived from Gaulish apa 'water' (in the sense of a river) and German -stein 'stone' (in the sense of a hill).

== Reputation == The Jewish Encyclopedia from 1906 noted that "the number of individual Epsteins who have achieved prominence is [...] large." According to The Spectator contributor Angela Epstein, the reputation of the name became tarnished in the 21st century following the revelation of the sex crimes of financier Jeffrey Epstein, although it had previously a more positive association with the music manager Brian Epstein and the sculptor Jacob Epstein. The Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam dubbed the bearers of the surname "magnificent, accomplished, and nefarious", associating the name with people such as Brian, Jeffrey, columnist Joseph, the screenwriter twins Philip and Julius, married editors Jason and Barbara, Rabbi Mendel, and journalist Edward Jay Epstein, among others.