Pronunciation | /ˈliːvi, ˈlɛvi/ |
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Origin | |
Language(s) | Hebrew |
Meaning | joining |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Levi, Lévi, Lévy; Lewy, Lewi, Lewj (languages: Polish, German, etc.); Weil, Veil, etc. (in anagram form) |
Levy or Lévy is a surname generally of Hebrew origin. It is a transliteration of the Hebrew לוי meaning "joining". Another spelling of the surname—among multiple other spellings—is Levi or Lévi.
The surname usually refers to a family claiming Levite descent, which implies a specific social status in the structure of a traditional Jewish community.
Levy can also be—though it is very rarely—a surname of French, Scottish, and Welsh origin. Variant spellings of the Scottish surname Levy are Levey, Leevy and Leavy.[1][2]