Show ContentsLeven History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Leven Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Leven

What does the name Leven mean?

The Leven 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 Leven family

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

Early History of the Leven family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leven 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 Leven History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leven Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Lewin, Lewins, Lewens, Lewinson and others.

Early Notables of the Leven family

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 the St Giles-without-Cripplegate, London, he was apprenticed to...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leven Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leven migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Leven or a variant listed above:

Leven Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Daniel Leven, aged 22, Irish farmer who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841

Leven migration to Canada +

Leven Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Leven, aged 20 who was a Seaman aboard the ship "Gilmour" taking passenger to Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died at Grosse Isle on 15th June 1847 in the typhus epidemic 1

Leven migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Leven Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Leven, Irish settler from Annaghdown travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 2
  • Mrs. Leven, Irish settler from Annaghdown travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Leven (post 1700) +

  • Major-General Leven Cooper Allen (1894-1979), American Chairman of the War Department Manpower Board (1946-1947) 3
  • Leven Handy Ellis (b. 1881), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alabama State Senate, 1927-31; Member of Alabama State House of Representatives, 1936-43; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1940, 1948; Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, 1943-47
SS Norge
  • Mr. Johan Arvid Andersson Leven (1878-1904), Swedish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he died
  • Mrs. Mathilda Ottilia Leven (1881-1904), Swedish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, she died
  • Mr. Ragnar Sigurd Gillis Leven (b. 1904), Swedish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he died
  • Mr. Rune Harry Leven (1902-1904), Swedish passenger who was aboard the ship "SS Norge" when she ran aground and sunk on 28th June 1904, he died
  1. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 62)
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Leven Allen. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Allen/Leven_Cooper/USA.html

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