Katzenellenbogen is a Jewish Ashkenazi surname derived from the name of the former County of Katzenelnbogen, a small medieval state of the German Empire[1] (see also Katzenelnbogen Castle and town). Protection money paid by Jews was the main source of income for the small principality.[1] Different spellings of the toponym and surname include Katzenelenbogen and Katznelbogen,[1] with further derivative forms and spellings of the surname like Katsenelenbogen, Catzenellenbogen, Katzin, Katz, Elbogen/Ellenbogen and Bogen.
- ^ a b c Guggenheimer, Heinrich Walter; Guggenheimer, Eva H. (1992). Jewish Family Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary. KTAV Publishing House. ISBN 0881252972. Retrieved 15 July 2024.