maisel

Maisel is a surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It has been borne by families in Central Europe, particularly in Bohemia and Prague, and has spread through immigration to North America and other regions.

In Prague, the Maisel family funded notable civic and religious institutions, including the Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova Synagoga) in the Jewish Quarter. Built in the late 16th century, the synagogue is part of the city’s historic Jewish heritage and is associated with the wider history of the Maisel family in Bohemia.

Variant spellings of the name include Meisel and Maizel, among others, reflecting regional linguistic differences and transliteration over time. The surname appears in various records, sometimes linked to merchant or artisan communities, though individual family histories vary by lineage.

In contemporary popular culture, Maisel is the surname of the fictional protagonist in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an American television series that premiered in 2017. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a housewife who pursues a career in stand-up comedy in New York City during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

See also: Maisel Synagogue, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.