The Levens 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."
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Early Origins of the Levens family
The surname Levens was first found in Shropshire where the family was anciently seated.
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Early History of the Levens family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Levens 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 Levens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Levens Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Lewin, Lewins, Lewens, Lewinson and others.
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Early Notables of the Levens 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 Levens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Levens family
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Levens or a variant listed above: Mary Lewin was recorded as having arrived in Virginia in 1638; Charles Lewen arrived in Maryland in 1669; William Lewin arrived in New England in 1712.
England
