Glickman

Glickman is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is an Anglophone rendering of a name that in its original form derives from Yiddish or German elements meaning luck or fortune, combined with a suffix that signifies “man” or “person.” The name may have originated as a nickname for someone regarded as lucky or as a descriptive label for a family associated with luck or happiness.

Variants of the name include Glikman, Gluckman, Glickmann, and Glikman. These spellings reflect transliteration choices from Hebrew, Yiddish, or German into English and other languages, as well as regional phonetic shifts.

Glickman is found among Jewish communities in the United States, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. As with many Ashkenazi surnames, bearers often trace ancestry to Central or Eastern Europe where Yiddish-speaking communities were historically concentrated.

In modern times, the name can appear outside strictly Jewish contexts through migration and name changes, and individuals bearing the surname have contributed across a range of professions, including academia, business, arts, and public life. The surname appears in genealogical records, professional directories, and cultural works, reflecting its broader diaspora ties as well as distinctive family histories.

See also related surnames such as Glikman, Gluckman, and Glick.