Feinstein

Feinstein is a surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It derives from the German elements fein, meaning fine or delicate, and stein, meaning stone. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a habitational surname for someone associated with a notable stone or rocky feature. It is found among Jewish and German-speaking communities and has several transliteration variants, with Feinstein being the most common in English-speaking contexts.

Notable bearers of the name include Dianne Feinstein (1933–2023), an American politician who served as a United States Senator from California from 1992 until her death, and who previously served as mayor of San Francisco. The surname is carried by other individuals in public life, academia, and culture, though they may be less widely known than Feinstein.

As a surname with immigrant roots, Feinstein appears in historical and contemporary references related to families and genealogical studies of Jewish and German heritage. It is also encountered in biographical and scholarly works that identify individuals who share the name. For other uses of the name, see Feinstein.