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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Jewish (Ashkenazic) : ornamental name from Russian karabin ‘carbine’ (see Carbine).
  • Perhaps also a reduced form of Greek Karabinos or Karabineris, or a derivative of these such as the patronymic Karabinidis, from Greek karabina ‘carbine’, ‘musket used by cavalry’, Italian carabina. This was also used as an unflattering nickname for a lazy or opportunistic person and for a tight player at cards.

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