Dear Andrew:
There are Jews named KAISER, KOENIG (king), FUERST (prince), GRAF
(count) and HERZOG (duke), so why not BARON?

Lars Menk suggests bar-On ("son of strength"), Ben Rav Nachman
(acronym), etc., so your guess may be good too.

BARON was used as a surname before most Jews adopted such; Louis Lewin
reports its presence in Lissa since 1777.

Roger Lustig
Princeton, NJ USA

Lenard, Andrew wrote:
What could be the origin of the family name "Baron?" It seems to occur
among Jews. Could it come >from "ben Aaron?" Any suggestion would be
welcome.