Surname Levingston - Meaning and Origin
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Levingston: What does the surname Levingston mean?
The last name Levingston is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from an old personal name. It is a variant of the name Livingston, which is a habitational name from a place in Lothian, Scotland. This place was originally named in Middle English as Levingston, from an owner called Levin (Leving), who appears in charters of David I in the early 12th century. The "-ston" or "-stone" ending comes from the Old English word "tun" meaning "settlement" or "farm." Therefore, Levingston could mean "Levin's settlement" or "Levin's farm." Like many surnames, over centuries of migration and language development, the spelling and pronunciation may have changed, resulting in a variety of forms like Levinson, Levingstone, or Levingston. Remember, surname meanings can be somewhat speculative since they often developed from a wide range of sources including occupations, geographical landmarks, nicknames, and patronyms.
Order DNA origin analysisLevingston: Where does the name Levingston come from?
The surname Levingston is of Scottish origin, derived from the place-name Livingston in West Lothian. The name itself translates to "Leving’s town." It dates back to the 12th century when a nobleman named Livingston received lands in this area from David I of Scotland, thus creating the land title of Lord Livingston.
Over centuries, many of the Livingston family (or Levingston, as it would often be spelled), spread across the United Kingdom and into Ireland. However, it would seem that the greatest migration happened during the 18th and 19th century when many moved to the United States due to the highland clearances and famine.
Today, the surname Levingston is common in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the highest concentration of people with the Levingston surname are found in Texas, followed by Louisiana and Michigan. Despite its roots, it is a relatively uncommon surname in Scotland today. Because of different transcriptions over time and across regions, variants of the original name like Levinson, Levenson, and Levison can also be found in various parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Levingston
The surname Levingston originates from the English place name "Livingston," which is derived from an Old English personal name "Leofing" and the word "tun" meaning farm or settlement. Thus, the original meaning of this surname is likely "Leofing's settlement".
There are several variations and spellings of Levingston. Some of the common ones include Livingston, Levinson, Levenson, Levinston, Lewington, Levingstone and Levings. In some cases, it might also be mistakenly spelled as "Levington," losing the 's.'
The surname has also been adopted by Jewish families, possibly as an anglicized form of the patronymic name Levi or Lieberman. In these cases, it may be spelled as Levison or Leibson. Other possible but less common variants are Lavingston or Lavinston. In Scotland, the surname could also appear as Leveston or Levestun.
It's also likely that some families have dropped or added prefixes to the name over time, such as MacLivingston or O'Livingston, adding an Irish or Scottish touch, depending the geographical and cultural influence.
Remember that the spelling of surnames can change over time, due to factors like immigration, phonetic spelling, and cultural assimilation, which can result in a variety of spellings for the same originally surname.
Famous people with the name Levingston
- Clifford Levingston: former professional basketball player. He was an NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls in 1992 and 1993.
- Jean-Michel Levingston: French actor and theater professor, best known for his work in the television series Les Revenants.
- Wolfgang Levingston: German composer and pianist. He is well known for his pieces that combine elements of classical music and jazz.
- Johannes Levingston: Danish politician and member of the Liberal Alliance party.
- Cynthia Levingston: American actress who has appeared in many films and TV shows.
- Stephen Levingston: American author and journalist who writes about news and politics for the Washington Post.
- Raeshon Levingston: former professional American football cornerback who played in the NFL.
- Iman Levingston: Emirati artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation art.
- Alex Levingston: English rugby union player who currently plays for Sale Sharks.
- Robert Levingston: former United States Navy four-star admiral and former Chief of Naval Operations.