Surname Levens - Meaning and Origin

Levens: What does the surname Levens mean?

The origin of the last name Levens is likely English. It is derived from a Middle English habitational name from any of various places called Levens, in Gloucester, Lincoln, Lancashire, and Westmorland. The surname likely referred to someone who came from any of these places or perhaps was even named for someone who lived in any of these places.

In Middle English the word 'leven' meant living or alive. The addition of the letter 's' to this noun, most likely referring to the plural form of the word, created the word 'levens.' Putting together this Old and Middle English word formation, the ultimate meaning of the last name Levens may be a meaning of living in a place called Levens.

Levens is not an extremely common name, but there are instances of it being used in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Records of the name Levens date back as far as the 16th century in England.

In the Victorian era, Levens was a name most generally associated with the areas of Scotland and the northern parts of England. The name is also common in South Wales.

Today, the name Levens is not a common one in either Britain or the United States. However, occurrences of the name can be seen in Wales, Scotland, and parts of Northern England.

Levens: Where does the name Levens come from?

The last name Levens is most commonly seen today in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe. The surname is derived from a town called Levens, located in Cumbria, England. It is believed that this town's name is of Old English origin, derived from lyfen, meaning 'elm tree'.

The Levens family is believed to originate from the town itself, with records of men with the name dating back to the 14th century. In the present day, Levens is one of the most commonly found surnames in Cumbria, with over 350 recorded living in the region.

The name has spread to other parts of Europe; for example, it is particularly popular in France, with over 900 people recorded to bear the name. In other countries, Levens is very uncommon, with only a few recorded in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

The most famous bearers of the name include Rick Levens, an American football player, and American actor Steve Levens. The actor's parents were of Irish and Polish descent, and migrated to the United States in the late 1950s. Many others who bear the name are involved in professional sports, such as baseball, basketball, and golf.

Variations of the surname Levens

The surname Levens is a patronymic surname derived from a personal name, which originated in England. Variants and spellings of the name include Levins, Levi, Levenson, Levinsohn, Levine, Levensohn, Levenshon, Lévy, and Lévins.

Levins and Levens are both derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon first name, Levin, which is also rooted in the Hebrew name, Levi. The name Levi is derived from the Hebrew name Loew, which means "joined in harmony". Variations of the name Levi include Lee, Le, and Lev.

The surname Lévy has a French origin and is likely connected to the Hebrew name Levi. It is thought that many French Huguenots adopted the name in order to escape religious persecution, meaning that the name may have spread to other parts of Europe as a result.

The name Levenson is thought to have derived from the Hebrew name Levi, as it is an Anglicization of the Hebrew last name Levinson. It's also possible that the name could have been adopted by Jews who migrated to England from France.

The variation Levine is of German origin, and is thought to have been adopted by Jewish immigrants to England from Germany or Eastern Europe. It is derived from the Hebrew name Levi.

The surname Levensohn is likely to have derived from the Hebrew name Levitz, meaning "son of Levy". It is thought to have been adopted by Jews who migrated from Germany to England during the 18th century.

Finally, the surname Levenshon is a derivative of the Hebrew name Levenson, meaning "son of Levi". Although it is considered to be of Jewish origin, it is not known when and where the name was first adopted.

In conclusion, the surname Levens has various spellings, variations, and surnames of the same origin, all of which are derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon, French, and Jewish names, Levi, Lévy, Levinson, Levitz, and Levenson.

Famous people with the name Levens

• Dorsey Levens: American retired football player
• Jon Levens: American football player
• Melissa Levens: American TV producer
• Bryan Levens: Artist and jewelry maker
• Rusty Levens: American TV news anchor
• Josh Levens: American politician and current mayor of Scarborough
• Robin Levens: American film actor
• Joe Levens: American singer-songwriter
• Art Levens: Chief Executive Officer of Logistics Corporation
• Owen Levens: British musician, composer, arranger, and songwriter

Other surnames

Leven