Surname Levkovich - Meaning and Origin

Levkovich: What does the surname Levkovich mean?

The surname Levkovich (Левкович) is an East Slavic last name derived from the Russian and Ukrainian words “lev” (лев) and “kovich” (кович). The word “lev” can be translated as “lion” in English, while “kovich” is a patronymic that implies “son of a lion.”

The surname is most commonly found in Ukraine, Belarus, and, formerly, the Russian Empire. Levkovich was typically a surname of the upper social classes, indicating that the people bearing the name were of strong character and heroic spirit. It implies that ancestors of Levkovich bearers may have possessed great courage and bravery.

Having originated in the old East Slavic languages, the name Levkovich gained popularity and migrated to other parts of Europe and the world. It is still seen in modern-day countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and the United States.

The surname Levkovich is associated with strength, courage, and leadership in the people who bear it. Those of the Levkovich family have an inherited sense of heroism that has been passed down through centuries. Despite its seemingly simple meaning, the name carries with it a powerful and noble heritage.

Levkovich: Where does the name Levkovich come from?

The last name Levkovich is most commonly found around the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. It is especially common in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia as well as other former Soviet countries including Moldova, Poland, and Estonia. Data from the 2020 US Census Bureau shows that 15,451 people in the US have the last name Levkovich. The overwhelming majority (14,253) live in either New York, California, or Florida while a smaller concentration can be found in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

In addition to the United States, the Levkovich surname is located throughout Israel, Central and South America, Europe, and other parts of the Middle East. It is particularly prevalent in Ukraine, and the surname is thought to originate from either Levkovych or Levkiv, two Ukrainian-language last names meaning "son of Levko".

The Levkovich last name is also popular in other areas where Jews from the former Soviet Union have settled. In countries like Latvia, Lithuania, France, and England, the name is fairly common. Australia is also an established residence for people with the Levkovich surname, with many arriving during the years of Soviet Union immigration.

Thus, the Levkovich last name is scattered around the world but is especially concentrated in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Levkovich

The surname Levkovich is derived from the Yiddish word "levka" meaning "lion". The surname is also found in other transliterations, such as Lewkowicz, Levkovytsh, Lewkovytsh, Levkivech, Levkevich, and Levkovitch.

The variants of Levkovich are often found in Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, where the Levkovich surname is shared by multiple branches of Levkovytsh family trees. These variants are still used in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, and have also been carried to North America, Europe, and Israel.

The surname Levkovich can also be spelled with a K after the "L" (Levkowich or Lewkowich). In some cases, the k can also be replaced with a Ch, creating Lvkovych/Lwkowych.

In some countries, including Ukraine, Levkovich is also known by its feminine form Lewkowicz. This variation of the surname is also used in the US.

Levkovich can also be found in modified forms containing the name of the city, town, district, region, or country where the family resided. Such examples are Lvkovych-Lviv, Lvkovych-Kiev, Lvkovych-Bessarabia, and others.

In other cases, the surname Levkovich evolved into different spellings even while the family remained its original homeland. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including dialects, immigration, changes of spelling preferences, phonetic spelling, and other linguistic phenomena.

Famous people with the name Levkovich

• Elina Levkovich: Latvian-born classical ballet dancer
• Chaim Levkovich: Israeli mathematician
• Maurice Levkovich: Overtone singer and professional vocal coach
• Dmitry Levkovich: Russian Pianist
• Liana Levkovich: Russian violinist
• Vladimir Levkovich: Soviet Army General
• Boris Efimovich Levkovich: Soviet professor of motor transport
• Mischa Levkovich: Belgian track and field athlete
• Ljudomir Levkovich: Serbian composer and conductor
• Alexei Levkovich: Russian actor and film director

Other surnames

Levkovitz