Surname Livett - Meaning and Origin
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Livett: What does the surname Livett mean?
The last name Livett is an English surname. It is derived from the Old French word livite, which means "pale-faced," and could have initially been a nickname applied to someone who had a particularly fair complexion. It is likely that the name first originated in Wales in the medieval period.
The name Livett corresponds to the surnames Levitt, Lewitt, and Lewitts, which have a similar derivation. The name has also been seen spelled as Levett, Levet, Leavitt, and Levit. It is thought that the surnames all have a shared origin, and could have been interchangeable. Over time, these variants have taken on distinct spellings.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, many members of this surname emigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States. It is quite a common name in the United States, where the estimated population is 15,218.
Livett is still a well-known surname in the United Kingdom, where it is most commonly found in Welsh areas, particularly in the south and in East Anglia. The estimated population of those with the name in the United Kingdom is about 8,215.
Order DNA origin analysisLivett: Where does the name Livett come from?
The last name Livett is most common in the United Kingdom. The 2016 Census in England and Wales reported that Livett was the 1,576th most common surname. In Scotland, the 2011 census reported that the last name Livett was the 4,396th most common surname. Livett can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada.
According to the Telephone Directory of the United Kingdom, there are currently around 800 listings for people with the last name Livett. Most of these listings are located in the counties of Cheshire, Derbry, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Devon. The majority of the listings are located in the South West region with Somerset having the highest concentration of people with the last name Livett.
The Livett surname originated in the county of Cheshire, where the Livett River and Livett Cantraile sites still exist. It is believed that the surname was derived from the Old Norse word "livi" which means "fallow land". In the early Middle Ages, fallow land was typically used for agricultural purposes and this may also explain why the last name Livett is still most common in the rural areas of the United Kingdom.
Overall, the last name Livett is still most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the regions of the South West and Cheshire. It is also known to be found in other countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada.
Variations of the surname Livett
The surname Livett has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of Livett are Livet, Livitt, Levett, and Livatt. All of these variants are variations of the original spelling of Livett and all of their spellings have slightly different echoes, but all originate from the same roots.
The names Levet and Levy also stem from the same family root as Livett. These variations are derived from French roots and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Levet means ‘lion-hearted’ in French and Levy has its origin in the Hebrew word ‘Levite,’ meaning ‘descendant of the Levite tribe.’
The surnames Lively and Liversedge also have Livett as their origin. The surname Lively stems from an old English word that means ‘restlessly active’ which is a reference to lively people who were of the same family name. Liversedge is a northern English variant of the Livett surname, and it is believed to have derived its name from the word ‘ledge’ that means a steep slope, ravine, or cliff.
Finally, variants of Livett like Livens, Lyvens, and Leyvins also stem from the same origin. These variants are English and their roots can be traced back to a time when surnames consisted of a combination of letters and/or words. For example, the word ‘Lyven’ is derived from an old English occupational term, ‘loaf-warden,’ which was commonly seen in Middle Ages manors.
Therefore, the surname Livett has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, stemming from its French, old English, and Hebrew roots.
Famous people with the name Livett
- Nick Livesey:two-time British Academy Television Award-winning television producer and director
- Joe Livett: English footballer
- Matthew Livett: Elite Footballer and coach from Australia
- Todd Livett: retired professional Ice Hockey player
- Gordon Livett: successful English composer
- Peter Livett: British author and former producer at the BBC
- Malcolm Livett: former athlete and presenter of the Olympic torch relay
- Lesley Livett: English television presenter
- George Livett: British businessman and chairman of Manchester United Football Club
- Ann Livett: Chief Executive Officer of the British Red Cross