Leavins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Leavins surname comes from a Middle English given name Lefwine, which in turn comes from the Old English elements "leof," which meant "dear" or "beloved," and "wine," which meant "friend."

Early Origins of the Leavins family

The surname Leavins was first found in Shropshire where the family was anciently seated.

Early History of the Leavins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leavins research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1010, 1086, 1275, 1292, 1327, 1576, 1602, 1659, 1661, 1712 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Leavins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leavins Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Lewin, Lewins, Lewens, Lewinson and others.

Early Notables of the Leavins family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Justinian Lewyn (Lewen) knighted May 12, 1661; and John Lowin (1576-1659), an English actor, became associated with the theatrical world by 1602. Born in...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leavins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leavins migration to Canada +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Leavins or a variant listed above:

Leavins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James W Leavins, who landed in Canada in 1831
Peter Leavins, who arrived in Canada in 1831
William G Leavins, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Smith Peter Leavins, who landed in Canada in 1841