Levy

From the Biblical personal name Levi, from a Hebrew word meaning "joining". This was borne by a son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29: 34). Bearers of this name are Levites, members of the tribe of Levi, who form a hereditary caste who assist the kohanim (see COHEN) in their priestly duties.

There are three possible sources of this surname.

In England the first probability is that it derives from the Olde English pre 7th century baptismal or given name "Lefwi", composed of the elements "leof", dear, beloved, the "wig"- war.

The second possibility is that this surname is a French locational name from the village of Levy in Seine-et-Oise, so called from the Gallo-Roman personal name "Laevius", from the Latin "laevus", meaning 'left'.

The third possibility is Jewish, a later introduction from the the 17th century, and deriving from the Hebrew male name 'LEVI' which means 'The Joining'.

Early examples of church recordings include THOMAS Levye who married MARY BOREMAN at Tielhurst, Sussex on March 24th 1637.

Anne Levy, who married PATRICK Presse at St. Botolph's Church, Bishopgate, London, on April 25th 1698. The Coat of Arms is a silver field charged with a red lion rampant on a green mound.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of ROBERT LEVI, which was dated 1275, in the Subsidy Rolls, of Worcestershire, during the reign of King Edward I.