Surname Lavey - Meaning and Origin
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Lavey: What does the surname Lavey mean?
The last name Lavey is a French and Scottish topographic name made up of two parts: ‘la vey’ meaning ‘the valley’. The name is likely to originate from someone living in a low-lying area or a valley, as the ‘la vey’ suffix originates from the Old French ‘vallée’ which means ‘valley’.
The Lavey name is popular in both France and Scotland, although it is thought to have originated in Scotland. The spelling of the name may vary from place to place, however it is commonly seen as Lavey, La Vey or Le Vay.
The family motto for the Lavey family is ‘Omnia Valens’, which translates to ‘everything is valuable’ in Latin. The motto is fronted by a fig tree, which is thought to be representative of the valley life of their ancestors.
In Scotland, the motto dates back to the 14th century and is associated with a Clan Lavey from Aberdeenshire. It is believed that the Clan Lavey’s descended from the same ancestry as the Clan Gordon, which is associated with the powerful Gordon family.
The name Lavey is likely to have many different meanings depending on its context, however traditionally it could be associated with someone living in a low-lying valley and their family symbolism.
Order DNA origin analysisLavey: Where does the name Lavey come from?
The last name Lavey is mainly associated with the United States, primarily in northern states such as Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. According to the 2020 United States Census Bureau, these three US states alone currently account for over 89% of individuals with this surname. On a global scale, Lavey is most common in North America, with a significantly smaller numbers in Northern Ireland, Australia, and Germany.
In terms of origin, the name Lavey is believed to be of French or Irish origin, and most likely derives from the French La Vey or Lavée, meaning "the wet (spring or river) one," or "the leavings," both references to the environment.
In the United States, many people with the last name Lavey descend from Irish immigrants who likely settled in the area prior to or shortly after the American Revolution. Accordingly, records of the name Lavey can be found in the colonial and post-independence eras.
Today, outside of the United States, the surname Lavey is mainly associated with Irish Catholic diaspora populations scattered throughout the UK and Australia. Additionally, small numbers of the Lavey name can be found in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Lavey
The most common variants of the surname Lavey are Lavery and LaVeau. Lavery is an Anglicized form of the surname, which means the same as Lavey. It is an Irish surname that is derived from Ó Laoghbhaidhe, which translates to "descendant of Laoghbhaidhe." LaVeau is the French variant of the surname and is derived from the Old French "lavaeu," which translates to "washerman."
Other variants of Lavey include Lavie, LaVee, Lavy, Lavée, Laveaux, Laveay, Lavee, Laveaux, LaVay, and LaVoy. These variants are all derived from the personal name of Laevus, which was the Latin form of the personal name Lefos, which in turn, was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root leuf- or leuh- "to love."
Common spellings of Lavey include Lavie, LaVee, LaVay, LaVoy, Lavé, and LaVeau. These are all based on the pronunciation of the surname, as well as oft-used spelling variants. Some other spellings of the name include Lave, Lavery, and LaVee.
Common surnames with the same origin as Lavey include Laugey, Leavey, LaFay, LaFayette, Lafoe, and Laffey. All of these names ultimately originated from the same Proto-Indo-European root leuf- or leuh-, and were later anglicized into the various forms we see today.
Famous people with the name Lavey
- Anton LaVey: Anton Szandor LaVey was an American author, musician and occultist and the founder of the Church of Satan and the religion of LaVeyan Satanism.
- Craig LaVey: Music composer known for his work in the Resident Evil 5 video game
- Dean LaVey: One of the founding members of the musical group, The Creatures of the Golden Dawn
- David LaVey: Actor
- Adore LaVey: American professional wrestler
- Hilary LaVey: Digital Producer for the Today Show
- Ariel LaVey: Late American writer, singer, musician and artist
- Brook LaVey: Actor
- Joe LaVey: Guitarist, singer and songwriter
- Megan LaVey: Singer-songwriter and 2008 Nashville Star semi-finalist
- Nadia LaVey: Adult film actress
- Robert LaVey: American pianist and music producer
- Valentina LaVey: Professional dancer and 2005 Miss Universe Estonia