Surname Levandowsky - Meaning and Origin

Levandowsky: What does the surname Levandowsky mean?

Levandowsky is a traditionally Jewish surname believed to be derived from the Polonized form of the Yiddish name “Levan,” which literally translates to “lion.” It is not uncommon for Jewish surnames to come from Hebrew words related to animals, and it was likely that the original person’s ancestors who adopted the name had some association with an admired or feared lion-like quality: strong, brave, or proud.

Often, Jews would take on a surname for a variety of reasons, including when migrating to a new area, to distinguish themselves from one another in a crowded community, or to commemorate a particular event. Levandowsky specifically may have become popular among Jews living in eastern and central Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as it is believed to be one of the many surnames adopted during the period of Russification during the reign of the Russian Empire.

As the name spread and the family moved away from the traditional lands of Eastern Europe, “Levandowsky” eventually found its way to the United States as millions of Jewish immigrants arrived in search of a better life. Today, many people with Levandowsky as their surname have spread throughout the world, and the name’s origin is a reminder of Jewish heritage and resilience.

Levandowsky: Where does the name Levandowsky come from?

The surname Levandowsky is most commonly found in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland, Belarus, and Russia. It is derived from the Jewish name ‘Levy’, and is believed to originate from an ancient Jewish family that lived in Lovech, Bulgaria.

The name Levandowsky became popular among Russian Jews in the late 18th century, when many Jews immigrated to the Russian Empire, mainly from Poland and Belarus. During the late 19th century, the name spread even further to other parts of the Russian Empire, and to neighbouring countries. Today, the surname is still most popular in Poland, Belarus and Russia.

Due to increased emigration in the 20th century, however, Levandowsky is also found in large numbers in other countries: the United States, Germany, France, Canada, Argentina, Israel and the United Kingdom. In the US in particular, there are currently more Levandowskys than in any of the Eastern European countries; approximately 1,700 individuals with the last name are resident in the US. There are also estimated to be around 3,000 Levandowskys in Israel.

Thus, the surname Levandowsky is still most commonly found today in Eastern Europe, though due to emigration, it has spread to many other countries, including the United States.

Variations of the surname Levandowsky

Levandowsky is an uncommon Jewish surname which has its roots in Poland and the surrounding nations of that region. It is most commonly spelled Levandowsky or Levandovski, however there is a host of variant spellings used across the many nations involved in the Ashkenazi diaspora. In addition to these two more common spellings, the surname is also at times spelled Levandofsky, Levand**vsky**, Levandonofsky, Levandovskiy, Levendofsky, Levandoofski, Levandovstky, Levandovitsky and Levdonovsky. The surname is likely rooted in the Polish word for 'plains', Levandów, and is likely an occupational Jewish surname – named after those who worked with fields or plains. The surname also has a German, Austrian and Czech variant—Löwenstein, Lowenstein and Levandovský, respectively—which bears the same meaning. Finally, Levandowsky may also be seen written as Levanowsky, Lewandowsky or Levyandofsky due to phonetic adaptation by English speakers.

Famous people with the name Levandowsky

• Yiddish poet and literary scholar Yosef Levandowsky
• Israeli politician Yeshayahu Levandovsky
• Harvard Law professor Noah Levandowsky
• Israeli classical pianist and composer Dmitry Levandowsky
• Soviet author and semioticist Boris Levandowsky
• Russian-born American art critic Boris Levandowsky
• Ukrainian film maker Haim Levandovsky
• Israeli playwright Moshe Levandowsky
• Leader of the Lithuanian Jewish community Natan Levandowsky
• Israeli painter and sculptor Shmuel Levandowski

Other surnames

Levandowski