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![Show Contents]() Livitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Livitt familyThe surname Livitt was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. William Levett (ca.1200–ca.1270) was lord of the manor of the South Yorkshire village of Hooton Levitt. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Leuiet, held by a Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Livitt familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Livitt research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1495, 1554, 1586, 1594, 1608, 1630, 1634, 1655, 1668, 1691, 1693, 1700, 1711, 1725 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Livitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Livitt Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Levet, Levett, Levitt, Leavett, Leavitt, Livett and many more. Early Notables of the Livitt familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was William Levett (ca. 1495-1554),was an English clergyman; Thomas Levett (1594-ca. 1655), High Sheriff of Rutland; Christopher Levett (1586-1630) was an English writer, explorer and naval captain; Sir Richard Levett (also spelled Richard Levet) (died 1711), Sheriff , Alderman and Lord Mayor of London; William Levett, Esq., (sometimes spelled William Levet), courtier to King Charles I of England; Theophilus Levett...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Livitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Livitt familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Alice Louisa Levett, aged 28, who arrived at Ellis Island from London, England, in 1904; Benjamin Levett, aged 43, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1916.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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