Surname Lefkowitz - Meaning and Origin
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Lefkowitz: What does the surname Lefkowitz mean?
The surname Lefkowitz is an Ashkenazic Jewish name. The original form of the name is from the Hebrew language and the meaning is "beloved of God". It is derived from the Hebrew name "Lavkah" which is a combination of two words: "Lev" meaning "heart" and "Kah" meaning "god". The name is likely named after a popular figure in the Hebrew Bible named Lev.
In Jewish custom, the "Lef" prefix is often used to refer to someone who is beloved or a favored person. Thus the last name Lefkowitz means "beloved of God" or "God's favorite". It is also possible that it was used to refer to a member of a religious group or sect devoted to a specific deity.
The surname is a common Jewish name, and is found in both Europe and parts of the Middle East. Today, it is most often encountered in Jewish families from countries like the United States, Germany, Russia, Austria and Israel. It is also seen among communities in countries like Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and the Ukraine.
The name Lefkowitz has a rich history, and serves as a reminder of the strong relationship between the Jewish people and their Creator. To a person with this surname, it symbolizes both their ancestry and spirituality. It has become a beloved appellation for countless generations of Jewish families, and is a name of great significance and meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisLefkowitz: Where does the name Lefkowitz come from?
The last name Lefkowitz is most commonly found in the United States and in Israel today. It is a distinctly Jewish name, derived from the Yiddish word “Lefkavits,” meaning “blessing.”
The majority of Lefkowitzes living in the United States today can be found in the Northeast, with particularly high concentrations in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. According to the 2010 United States Census, over 5,500 people claim Lefkowitz as their last name, with over 1,500 living in New York alone.
In Israel, the Lefkowitz surname is even more popular. The Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel estimated that over 8,000 people were living with the surname in 2019. This includes second- and third-generation descendants of Jewish families who immigrated to Israel from various countries in the Middle East and Eastern Europe in the early and mid-20th century.
Most Lefkowitzes today still continue to identify with their Jewish heritage. In the United States, they make up a large portion of the Jewish community, while in Israel they can be found in many different neighborhoods and cities throughout the country.
Variations of the surname Lefkowitz
The surname Lefkowitz is a relatively common Jewish name and is derived from the German or Yiddish word “lef” meaning “lion” and “witz” meaning “village”. This suggests that it may have started as an occupational name, denoting an individual who was from an area where lions were once found.
Variations or alternate spellings of Lefkowitz include: Lefkovits, Lefkovitz, Lefkovitzky, Levkowitz, Levkovits, Levkovitz, Levkovitzky, Levkowicz, Levkovitzky, Levkovich, Levovicz, Levovitz, Levowitz, and Levovitzky.
The many variants of this name have shown up not only in Jewish families, but also as a likely transformation of {Lejkowicz in Poland, the Czech Republic and eastern Slovakia; {Lekovics in Hungary; {Löwovicz in Germany, and {Lejtholt in Norway.
The surnames derived from Lefkowitz include, but are not limited to, Lefkovitz, Levkowitz, Levkovich, Levovicz, Levovitz, Levowitz, and Levovitzky. These may be spelled as Lefkovitsz, Levkovics, Lewovicz, Löwovicz, Lefkovicz and many others.
In some cases, the surname may also have been undergone phonetic or orthographic evolution over time. This might include alternative spellings such as Lefkovic, Lafkovic, Lefkowich, Lefkovicz, Lefkovick, Lafkowich, Lafkovicz, Lafkovick, Levkin, Kevkin, Levken, Levkenov and various others.
It is worth noting that some members of the Lefkowitz family may have added or dropped vowels or suffixes in their names. Thus it is possible to find different spellings of the same surname in various records and documents.
Famous people with the name Lefkowitz
- Barry Lefkowitz: Emmy Award-winning music supervisor.
- Steve Lefkowitz: Comedian, writer, and actor.
- Jeffrey Lefkowitz: American actor, producer, and screenwriter.
- Ilya Lefkowitz: American game show host.
- Bonnie Lefkowitz: Author and poet.
- Craig Lefkowitz: Producer and motion picture executive.
- Michael Lefkowitz: American physicist, specializing in mathematical physics.
- Alan Lefkowitz: Composer, orchestrator and pianist.
- Jeff Lefkowitz: American business executive and CEO.
- Fran Lefkowitz: Film director and screenwriter.
- Judd Lefkowitz: Author, artist, and professional speaker.
- Mark Lefkowitz: Attorney, co-founder of a law firm, and writer.
- David Lefkowitz: Computer engineer, specializing in software development.
- Jeffrey Lefkowitz: American psychologist specializing in trauma and neuropsychology.
- Marshall Lefkowitz: Musician and artist.