Surname Levy - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling the History of My Levy Surname: An Unexpected Turn to Jewish Roots Through An iGENEA DNA Test
A quest to understand more about my Levy surname led me to undergo an iGENEA DNA test. Anticipating the standard back story, I was left astounded as the test instead traced my history back to the Levites, a Jewish group from ancient Israel.
T. Levy
read moreLevy: What does the surname Levy mean?
The surname Levy is of Jewish origin and derives from the Hebrew name Levi. In Hebrew, Levi means "joining" or "attached". In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, Levi was the third son of Leah and Jacob, from whom the priestly tribe of Levites descended. So, the surname Levy can also imply a connection to the religious tribe of Levites, who were particularly linked to serving in the Jerusalem temple. Over time, Levy became a common surname among Jews. Despite its religious origins, the surname does not necessarily indicate the person's current religious affiliation. Additionally, variations of the name exist in different cultures and languages. It's also used as a given name.
Order DNA origin analysisLevy: Where does the name Levy come from?
The surname Levy is common in many countries around the world. In Europe, the name is particularly popular in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, while in the United States, it is most frequent in New York and California.
In the United States, Levy is primarily a Jewish surname, deriving from the Hebrew name, Levi, which is one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Germany, Levy can also be found, and is sometimes taken from the name Ludwig. In France, the families are more likely to have adopted the name as an occupational name from the French word "levee," meaning rise.
In Israel, Levy is the ninth most common surname. It likely arrived in the country with Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492. The surname is also found in many Middle Eastern countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.
In the U.K., the surname Levy is most common in London and Manchester. It is believed that many Levy families in the U.K. are the descendants of the Sephardic Jews who settled in London and created a thriving Jewish community in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Overall, Levy is a popular surname across the world, but most more frequent in countries with large Jewish populations due to its Hebrew origin.
Variations of the surname Levy
The surname Levy is of Jewish origin and is derived from the Hebrew name Levi, which means "attached" or "joining". Variations of the Levy surname include Levy, Levey, Lewy, Lewie, Lewe, Lewin, Lewinsky, Levoy, Levia, Levitz, Leibovitz, and Livi. The spelling variation in this surname is dependent upon the language spoken in the region within which it is used. In Ashkenazi Jewish communities, the Levy surname is generally spelled Levey, Lewy or Lewie.
In Sephardic Jewish communities, the Levy surname is usually spelled as "Levi" or "Levy", while in Yemenite and Italian communities, it is usually spelled as "Levi" or "Levy" followed by a vowel (such as Levie, Levya, Levyaa). This variation in spelling is a result of the varying language influences that have taken place throughout the centuries.
The Levy surname is also found in various other languages and cultures, including Russian, Polish, Czech, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Kurdish. Variations of the name in these cultures are usually derived from the same root word, Levi, but may be written differently, such as Lewin, Lewinsky, Levoy, Levia, Levitz, Leibovitz, and Livi.
Generally speaking, all of these variations of the Levy surname are derived from the same Hebrew origin and refer to a person whose ancestor was Levi. The various spellings and surnames simply reflect the language and culture in which they were adopted.
Famous people with the name Levy
- Sarah Levy: Canadian actress best known for her roles in Schitt’s Creek.
- Jerry Levy: American guitarist, composer and producer
- Jonathan Levy: American writer, playwright and director
- Jack Levy: American writer, comedian and artist
- Ted Levy: American dancer and choreographer
- Paul Levy: British businessman and CEO of Addison Lee
- Seymour Levy: Canadian businessman, investment banker and financial advisor
- Dave Levy: American television sports anchor and executive
- Samuel J. Levy: American entrepreneur and real-estate developer
- Robert Levy: American intellectual, writer and scholar
- Ezra Levy: American film producer and entrepreneur
- Stanley M. Levy: American engineer, industrialist and philanthropist
- − Garth Levy: Canadian lawyer and professor
- Joanna Levy: American actress
- Patrick Levy: French sportswriter, journalist and media consultant
- Jordan Levy: American actor and comedian
- Jeroen Levy: Dutch software developer and game designer
- Marc Levy: French novelist
- Flexi Levy: German footballer