Surname Levis - Meaning and Origin
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Levis: What does the surname Levis mean?
Levis is an old French name thought to originate from the Latin personal name “Livius”. The root of this name is also found in a Latin word “livi” meaning “with a grey color”. As such, it would be thought to refer to an ancestor's grey hair or grey cloth of some kind.
Another possible origin of the Levis surname could be from a French word meaning 'e levage,” which means 'taming' or 'waiting for pasturing.' This could refer to an ancestor who managed a herd of animals, which could make the name a profession name.
Others have suggested the origin of the Levis name may be an abbreviation of the name “Levy” or “Levitt” which are both Jewish last names. Levy is derived from the Hebrew word for “join” as in joining the community and Levitt is an Anglicized form of the Hebrew “Lavi”, meaning “Lion”.
The Levis name has also been associated with the Spanish “leon” meaning “lion”. This could refer to a family crest or tradition of pride and ferocity amongst the ancestors.
Whatever the real origins of the name, it is likely that Levis is an old surname from France or Spain that was adopted by the family to identify themselves and their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisLevis: Where does the name Levis come from?
The last name Levis is most commonly found in France today, with other significant populations also found in the United States, Canada, and parts of Latin America.
In France, the name is almost exclusively found in the Franche-Comté region, located in the eastern part of the country near the border with Germany. Here, it is the 10th most popular surname, and has a variety of spellings, including Lévêque, Levé, and Leveque.
In the United States, the surname Levis is found predominantly in the states of Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in Quebec, a province with a long history of French colonization and settlement, specifically in Montreal, the province's largest city.
In Latin America, the last name Levis can be found in Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, countries with large immigrant populations from France and other French-speaking countries.
Overall, the surname Levis is an ancient name, originating from the Latin Leuis, meaning “wolf”. It has been found in France and other parts of Europe for centuries, and today is most commonly found in France, the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Variations of the surname Levis
The surname Levis is of French-Jewish origin, and is derived from the Hebrew word "Levi" meaning “joined to”, "union" or “attached”. It was traditionally borne by members of the priestly class in Biblical times. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Levis are as follows:
Levie/Levy: This is the standard spelling of the French-Jewish surname Levis.
Levias/Leviasse: This is a spelling variant of Levis, which was most commonly used in the medieval period.
Levitan/Levy-Tan: This is a Jewish variant of Levis, which was most commonly used in 19th century Russia. It derives from the Jewish name Levi-Tanchum.
Levitin/Levy-Tin: This is a Jewish variant of Levis, which was the most popular version of the name used in 19th century England.
Levine/Levine-Vine: This is a version of Levis that was typically used by Ashkenazi Jews. It is derived from the old Hebrew name Levy-Vinik.
Levy: This is a generic variant of Levis that has been used in both England and Ireland.
Levysohn: This is a Jewish variant of Levis, which was most commonly used in the 19th century Hungary and Romania. It derives from the Hebrew name Levi-Zeitseon.
Levyssohn: This is a Jewish variant of Levis, which was most commonly used in the 19th century Poland. It is derived from the Hebrew name Levi-Yitzy.
Levitsky/Levitzky: This is a Jewish variant of Levis, which was most commonly used in the late 18th century. It is derived from the Hebrew name Levi-Tsiyon.
Levitz: This is a German Jewish variant of Levis, which originated in the 17th century. It is derived from the Hebrew name Levi-Tzvi.
Although the surname Levis has been used in various parts of the world, its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin remain relatively limited. However, the many variations of Levis demonstrate the diverse ways in which this surname has been used throughout different regions and cultures.
Famous people with the name Levis
- Joshua Levis: American entrepreneur, celebrity spokesperson, and television personality.
- Jessica Levis: British actress and singer.
- John Levis: American diplomat, career foreign service officer and ambassador.
- Julius Levis: Jewish Austrian conductor and composer.
- Lizzie Levis: Australian circus performer and equestrian.
- Arthur Levis: Brazilian film director, producer, and screenwriter.
- Rose Levis: British author and illustrator.
- George Levis: French business magnate and investment banker.
- Robert Levis: American mathematician and scientist.
- Maurice Levis: British sculptor and painter.
- William Levis: American constitution orator and author.
- Pedro Levis: British actor, voice artist, and television presenter.
- Alma Levis: French aviatrix and poet.
- Tony Levis: English comedian, singer, and actor.
- June Levis: Canadian fashion designer.
- R. R. Levis: American author and lawyer.
- Patrick Levis: Welsh actor and singer.
- Sebastian Levis: French serial entrepreneur.
- Spencer Levis: English writer and comedian.
- Waldron Levis: American visual artist.