If someone's surname is 'Cohen' or 'Katz' what is the chance that they are related to the Jewish Kohanim.

Question

Also for Levite last names.

Answer 1

Also Kahn, Cohn -- any spelling that sounds like that.  immigrant names can get misheard by others.

Answer 2

Cohen will usually be a member of the Kohanim.  Katz probably not.

All they many forms of Levy, Levine, Lavigne etc are levites.  Why, you need a temple attendent?

Answer 3

The chances asre high, for both Cohen and Katz--Katz is an abbreviation of the Hebrew "Kohen Tzedeq", which means "righteous priest".

Levite last names (Levy, Levi, Levine, and so on) are all likely members of the Levite clan (people who had specific roles within the Temple and who served the priests).

Answer 4

Most or all Cohens are Kohanim descendants