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The name Levine 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. Levine 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.
In the United States, the name Levine is the 950th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1