Levin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Levin is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources.Two of the most common types of Jewish family names are patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Levin is a Jewish name that was originally derived from the Hebrew male given name Levi, which means joining. The name was extremely popular because it was borne by Levi, the son of the Biblical figures Jacob and Leah, who was the Hebrew patriarch and the ancestor of the Levites. The Levites, the Israelite tribe that was not alloted land, were the priests or assistants of the priest in the temple.
Levin Ranking
In the United States, the name Levin is the 2,310th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in Russia, the name Levin is ranked the 851st most popular surname with an estimated 21,481 people with that name. 2
Levin migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Levin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Lewis Levin, who arrived in South Carolina in 1824
Levin 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:
Levin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Nathaniel William Levin, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
- Robert Levin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 3
- Lewis Levin, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Schiehallion" in 1872
Contemporary Notables of the name Levin (post 1700) +
- Gerald M. Levin (1939-2024), American media businessman, best known for brokering the merger between AOL and Time Warner in 2000
- Fredric Gerson Levin (1937-2021), American plaintiffs' lawyer in the state of Florida, Chairman of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A, a law firm in Northwest Florida, he died from COVID-19
- Charles Leonard Levin (1926-2020), American jurist, Michigan Court of Appeals judge from 1966 to 1972 and
- Ida Levin (1963-2016), American concert violinist
- Ira Levin (1929-2007), American author, dramatist and songwriter
- Janna J. Levin (b. 1967), American theoretical cosmologist
- Beth Levin (b. 1950), American classical pianist
- Alan Levin (1926-2006), three-time Emmy Award-winning American filmmaker and journalist
- Haim Levin (1937-2024), Israeli football goalkeeper
- Mr. Lazarus J. Levin, British Councillor, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1940 to 1941
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Levin family +
Triangle Waist Company
- Miss Jennie Levin (b. 1892), Russian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 4
Suggested Readings for the name Levin +
- The History and Record of the Families Levin, Garber, Rynland by Marilyn Lane Taylor.
Citations +