Surname Leven - Meaning and Origin
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Leven: What does the surname Leven mean?
The last name Leven is generally of Scottish origin and is derived from the Old English word, “Leofan”, meaning “beloved”. It could also be a variant of the Scottish surname “Levin” or “Living”, signifying a place where a grove of trees once grew. The family may also be descended from the settlers of the Flemish city of Leuven.
The Levens are thought to have been in Scotland since at least the 12th century. Since then, the family descended from Norman nobility in England following the Norman Conquest. The family name was adopted as a way to differentiate between them and other families of their same name.
The earliest surviving document referring to the Leven name was a 1530 charter that mentioned a William Leven or Levine belonging to a gentry family in the county of Rutherglen, Scotland. The Leven Family is believed to have also been connected to the Scottish Clan Cunningham and many of them settled in the south-western part of Scotland as well as in Northern England.
As the family name spread, its spelling evolved as well. Today, variants of the name include Levan, Liven, Loven and Levins. The most common variation, Leven, is still found all over Scotland, England, the United States and other countries.
Though the origin of the Leven family name is not completely certain, it is likely connected to Norman and Scottish family trees and can still be found in various parts of the world. It is thought to represent a deep and beloved heritage stretching back centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisLeven: Where does the name Leven come from?
The last name Leven is most common among those descended from Scottish ancestors, and is particularly associated with Clan Leven, which was established in the early 16th century in the Perthshire area of Scotland. The original name was MacGille Amhlaigh, but it is believed that this was later translated as 'son of Leven' and hence the name Leven became associated with the clan.
Today, the last name Leven continues to be quite common in Scotland, with over one thousand bearers, and is especially common in the area around the city of Perth. It is also quite common in parts of Northern England and across the British Isles.
The name has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly North America, Australia, and New Zealand. A large number of Scots-Irish immigrants, who settled in the United States in the 18th century, often bore the name Leven. Smaller numbers of people with the name from Scotland later immigrated to Australia and New Zealand.
According to the United States Census of 2019, there are over 47,000 people in the country who bear the name of Leven. While from a genealogical perspective, Leven is a Scottish surname, with the increasing migration of people around the world, it is becoming much more common in other countries than in its homeland.
Variations of the surname Leven
The surname Leven has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Leven can be spelled Laven, Levien, Levin, Levon, Lavon, Levy, and Livan. Other surnames of similar origin include Leveen, Leevon, Levand, and Levinton.
In Scotland, Levin is the most common spelling of the Leven name which comes from the Gaelic word Mac Ghille Mhuire meaning 'Son of Mary'. In Ireland, the name is more commonly spelled Leven and derived from the Old Irish words for 'descendent of the poet', duine Lémhann.
The surname Leven is also believed to have a Jewish origin and is thought to come from the Hebrew word 'Lev' meaning 'heart'. In its Jewish form, the surname ranges in variants from Levon, Lavon, and Levy to Levinson and Levison.
In Yiddish form, the surname Leven may be spelled Livan and is thought to derive from 'Leyvik', which means 'life'. This branch of the Leven surname likely has its roots in the origin of the family coming from the banks of the Volga River in Russia.
The surname Leven has a widespread reach, across multiple cultures and continents including Scotland, England, Ireland, Russia, Eastern Europe, and the United States. It is also common in Australia and New Zealand. Although Leven is an uncommon surname, its variants have become widespread throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Leven
- Meir Leven: Meir Leven is a professional poker player who competed in the World Series of Poker.
- Claire Leven: Claire Leven is an Australian fashionista, entertainment reporter and actress best known for her appearances on Australia's The Circle and Hot Property.
- Mortimer Leven: Mortimer Leven is an American film producer primarily responsible for the 2007 comedy film Blades of Glory.
- Lord John Leven: Lord John Leven is a British film producer who was the executive producer for the 2017 movie The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
- Angus Leven: Angus Leven is a Scottish actor known for his roles in the films The House of Mirth and When the Sky Falls.
- Paul Leven: Paul Leven is an American composer and pianist best known for his work on various children's television shows.
- Luke Leven: Luke Leven is an American drummer who has performed with artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Demi Lovato, and Ke$ha.
- Henson Leven: Henson Leven was an American professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball from 1872 to 1875.
- Wilbur Leven: Wilbur Leven was an American diplomat and United States Ambassador to Lebanon from 1960 to 1965.
- Melissa Leven: Melissa Leven is an American actress and former voice actress, most renowned for providing several voice roles for the anime series The Last Airbender.