Surname Levcowicz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Levcowicz: What does the surname Levcowicz mean?
The last name Levcowicz is a Polish surname of Jewish origin, associated with the Jewish Levcowicz family from Kaunas, Lithuania, which has been traced back to the late 1700s. The name is related to the Hebrew 'Levi,' meaning ‘joined’ or ‘attached,’ and was likely taken on by a family member who had an association with the Levites, a Jewish priestly order. As Jewish surnames developed during the Middle Ages, Levcowicz likely served as an identifier for a family with a special connection to the Levites.
This surname is found predominantly in the area near Kaunas, but can also be seen in other places in Poland, as well as in the countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. During this time period, Jews were often discriminated against and forced to change their surnames to assimilate with the local populations. In some instances, the surname was changed to Levcowicz from an original form that was deemed too Jewish in origin.
As time went on, some members of the Levcowicz family spread their wings to different parts of Europe. For example, in the United States, Levcowicz can be found among Jewish immigrants who settled in cities like Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia between the late 1800s and early 1900s. Similarly, the surname has spread elsewhere, including other parts of the world such as South Africa and Australia.
In modern times, the surname Levcowicz still remains a reminder of those who endured persecution and hardship in pursuit of a better life for their families. The surname is a testament to the strength and resilience of its bearers in the face of adversity.
Order DNA origin analysisLevcowicz: Where does the name Levcowicz come from?
The last name Levcowicz is of Russian-Jewish origin and is not seen very often outside of that region. It is rarely recorded in the United States, but is relatively common in areas where Yiddish is spoken, such as Israel and parts of Eastern Europe. Specifically, the surname is most often seen in and around the countries of Poland, Latvia, Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
It is more common in Poland, where a handful of notable individuals with the surname can be found. These include Zygmunt Levcowicz, an influential first-generation Polish photographer who made notable contributions to the art of photography in the twentieth century. Additionally, there is an Israeli politician named Ilan Levkowicz who has held prominent positions in the government since the mid-1990s.
In the United States, the only documented reference to the last name belongs to Jules Levkowicz, a Polish Army veteran who arrived in the US from the Russian Empire in 1916. Other than that, there have been no other records of this last name in the New World—though one cannot rule out the possibility that the surname may pop up from time to time in America’s large Jewish communities.
All in all, the last name Levcowicz is most commonly found in the former eastern borderlands of the Russian Empire, including but not limited to Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Poland. Its highest concentration appears to be in the latter two countries.
Variations of the surname Levcowicz
The surname Levcowicz (or Lefkowicz) is derived from the Hebrew name Lavi and is an Eastern European Jewish surname. Variants of this surname include Levkovitz, Levkovits, Levkovitch, Levkovitsh, Lefcowicz, Levkovich, Lefkovitch, Lefkovits, Levcovich, Lefkovitz, Lebcowicz, as well as many other variations.
The derivation of Levcowicz from Lavi is likely a result of Eastern European Jews having adopted slight variations of their adversaries' languages. In this case, a Hebrew name became a Slavic surname.
In English, Levcowicz is sometimes spelled with a "v" and other times with a "f", which is slightly inaccurate but linguistically understandable. This is because in some languages the "v" and "f" sounds are almost interchangeable. For example, "v" and "f" can both be used to describe the same sound in German and Czech.
It can also be found written as Levkowitsch, Levkovitsh, Levkovisch, Levkovisch, and other variations. Because of the wide variety of Western and Eastern European languages and alphabets used over time, the same surname may be spelled differently depending on the region in which it is found.
In addition to having a variety of spellings, the surname Levcowicz also has many derivatives or variants, such as Lebcowicz, Levkowicz, Lebkowicz, and Lefkowicz. While some of these surnames may ultimately trace their roots back to Lavi, some may be derived from other names. Nonetheless, they are all related and are used interchangeably across Eastern Europe.
Famous people with the name Levcowicz
- Shoshi Levcowicz: Shoshi Levcowicz is an Israeli singer and actress, best known for her work on popular Israeli television series.
- Yosef Levcowicz: Yosef Levcowicz was an Israeli lawyer and judge, and the founder of the Israeli Supreme Court.
- Jacob Levcowicz: Jacob Levcowicz was a Polish-born Israeli chess grandmaster. He played in several international tournaments, including the World Chess Championship.
- Joseph and Marilyn Levcowicz: Joseph and Marilyn Levcowicz were pioneering Israeli photographers who documented life in the Holy Land throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Their work is held in a number of museums and private collections.
- Yosef Levcowicz-Grisberg: Yosef Levcowicz-Grisberg was an Israeli scholar and author who wrote extensively on the history of the Land of Israel, as well as on Jewish law and folklore.
- Haim Levcowicz: Haim Levcowicz was an Israeli politician who served multiple roles, including education minister, agriculture minister, and mayor of Beer Sheva.
- Yair Levcowicz: Yair Levcowicz is an Israeli-American businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of several startups, and is involved in a variety of philanthropic and social initiatives.
- Yitzhak Levcowicz: Yitzhak Levcowicz was an Israeli writer and poet whose works focused on his love for the Land of Israel and its people.
- Sara Levcowicz: Sara Levcowicz is an Israeli actress and singer who has appeared on a number of Israeli television series and stage productions.