| ![Show Contents]() Levene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The history of the Levene family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northwestern France, to the regions known as Brittany and Normandy. The name Lavigne is derived from the Old French word "vigne," meaning "vine," and as such it is likely that the first bearers of this name owned or worked on a vineyard. 1 Early Origins of the Levene familyThe surname Levene was first found in Brittany where they held a family seat in the seigneury of Haute Morays. They later branched to Houle in that same province. They were closely allied to this latter House of Houlle de Kermassonet. Branching to the region of Tournai they intermarried with the family of Hennebert. Branches were later found in Maine, Le Mans, Bourbonnais, Guyenne, and Artois. In the south of France they held a family seat in the region of Languedoc at Puylaroque. Joseph Lavigne, son of Pierre and Jeanne (née Gazaille), settled in Contrecoeur, Quebec and married Marie-Anne Gareau on 12th November 1727. 2 Early History of the Levene familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Levene research. More information is included under the topic Early Levene History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Levene Spelling VariationsHistory has changed the spelling of most surnames. During the early development of the French language in the Middle Ages, a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there spelling variations of the name Levene, some of which include Lavigne, Levine, Levin, Levigne, Levigny, Laveine, Lavignes, Lavene, Des Vignes, deVigne, Devignes, Devigne, De lavigne and many more. Early Notables of the Levene familyMore information is included under the topic Early Levene Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Levene migration to the United States | + |
France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Levene were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Levene were
Levene Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Betty Levene, aged 22, who arrived in America, in 1894
Levene Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Blooma Levene, aged 9, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1907
- Becky Levene, aged 13, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1907
- Annie Levene, aged 18, who arrived in America from Dalstone, England, in 1907
- Esther Levene, aged 7, who arrived in America from Liverpool, England, in 1907
- Fanny Levene, aged 5, who arrived in America from Dalstone, England, in 1907
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Levene (post 1700) | + |
- Julian Keith Levene (1957-2022), English musician and founding member of The Clash and Public Image Ltd (PiL)
- Phoebus Aaron Theodor Levene (1869-1940), Russian/American biochemist
- Sir David Raymond Levene KNZM OBE (1929-2021), New Zealand businessman and philanthropist from Ponsonby, New Zealand
- Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
- Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
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Levene migration to the United States 
England
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