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.