Amschel

Amschel is a masculine given name of German origin, used among German-speaking communities and in Ashkenazi Jewish contexts. It is best known from Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744–1812), the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty in Frankfurt, whose name helped popularize the form within European high finance. Mayer Amschel Rothschild established a money-changing and banking business in the late 18th century and laid the groundwork for a family network that would span several capitals.

His eldest son, Amschel Mayer Rothschild (1773–1855), continued the Frankfurt operations and prepared the path for the dynasty’s expansion. The family later established banking houses in London, Vienna, Paris, and Naples, run by Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Salomon Mayer von Rothschild, James Mayer de Rothschild, and Carl Mayer von Rothschild respectively. This transnational network became one of the most influential financial groups of the 19th century.

Today the name Amschel is recognized primarily for its association with the Rothschild lineage. Outside of historical or genealogical contexts, it is relatively uncommon as a given name in contemporary populations. The name thus remains a noted example of a German-language given name that gained prominence through a famous family.