Kanefsky

Kanefsky is a surname of Slavic origin, commonly found among Eastern European Jewish and non-Jewish populations. It is typically formed with the -ski suffix, indicating a toponymic or patronymic origin in Polish and related languages. The root likely derives from a place name such as Kaniv (Kanev) or from a given name adapted with the suffix.

The spelling Kanefsky is one of several transliterations. Variants include Kanevsky, Kanevski, and Kaniewski, reflecting shifts in transliteration from Cyrillic and Polish sources to English.

The surname is found mainly in North America and Europe, particularly the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Israel, with many bearers tracing ancestry to Eastern European immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Notable individuals bearing the surname have appeared across various fields, including film and academia, but no single figure dominates public recognition. The name remains of interest to genealogists and scholars studying Slavic surname formation and its Anglicized variants.

See also: Kanevsky, Kanevski, Kaniewski.