Surname Levins - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Levins: What does the surname Levins mean?
The surname Levins is of Jewish origin and derives from the Hebrew name "Levi," which means "joining" or "attached". The name was traditionally given to a third son. Over time, it evolved in different forms such as Levin, Levine, Levins, and others. In Jewish tradition, the tribe of Levi held special roles and responsibilities in religious rituals, and they did not possess their own territory but lived throughout the region of ancient Israel. Consequently, the surname Levins may also imply a familial connection to the tribe of Levi. It's essential to remember that last names can have multiple origins and meanings as they were often given based on geographical location, occupation, or even personal characteristics. Therefore, the meaning can also differ in various cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisLevins: Where does the name Levins come from?
The surname Levins is of Jewish Ashkenazic origin, derived from the male personal name Levin, which is a variant of "Levi." Levi is a Hebrew name meaning "attached" or "joined." The name became Levin with the addition of the Slavic suffix "-in," signaling "son of" or "descendant of." The Levins surname might also have Irish roots, derived from an anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Laighin, meaning "descendant of Laighean," a personal name based on "laighean," meaning "spear." In this case, the name Levin was likely changed to Levins in English-speaking countries for ease of pronunciation.
As an Ashkenazic Jewish name, Levins could be common in Israel, the United States, and other countries with sizable Jewish communities. As an Irish name, it is likely to be relatively prevalent in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In general, it can be found in various parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora movements, but with varying levels of frequency.
Variations of the surname Levins
The surname Levins is of English origin, stemming from the personal name 'Levin', which is derived from the Middle English personal names 'Lefwine' and 'Leofwine'. The latter is an Old English personal name composed of the elements leof 'dear', 'beloved' and wine 'friend'.
Variations of the surname Levins include Levin, Levins, Levings, Leavins, Leavens, Levens, Leavine, Levien, Levene, and Levinson, among others.
The spelling of the surname can change over time, with some families choosing to vary the spelling to differentiate from other families, or due to clerical errors in official documents. The spellings Leavens, Levens, Leavins, Levings, and Levien may be caused by dialectal influences affecting the pronunciation and spelling of the name.
Moreover, the addition of a patronymic suffix like '-son' could lead to variants like Levinson, meaning 'son of Levin'.
In England, the surname also exists in places, such as Levens in Westmorland and Levens Bridge in Yorkshire, possibly leading to a locational surname variant i.e., people named after the place they originated from or resided in.
The usage of these forms can vary across different countries and cultures depending on linguistic and historical factors.
Famous people with the name Levins
- Peter Levin: former COO of Netflix and the former Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Digital.
- Jonathan Levins: Canadian comedic actor, writer, director, creator who co-created the show Rush Pixels.
- Jerry Levins: author and former US senator from Massachusetts.
- Richard Levins: biologist, geneticist, and mathematician.
- Steve Levins: former director of the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade association representing companies in the outdoor recreation industry.
- John Levins: former Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Lance Levins: former North American figure skater and coach.
- Rich Levins: professional football player who played for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins.
- Robert C. Levins: former US colonel who was decorated for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
- Ron Levins: former MLB pitcher who played for several teams over his career.