NameCensus.

UK surname

Levan

A French occupational surname derived from "levain," referring to a baker who uses leaven (yeast) in bread-making.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Levan surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Carmarthenshire and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Levan is 133 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 405.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2011

133 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Levan had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Levan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Levan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Levan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Levan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 28 #28,274
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Levans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Carmarthenshire, Newport, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 016 Barnet
2 Carmarthenshire 002 Carmarthenshire
3 Newport 003 Newport
4 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
5 Tower Hamlets 031 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Levan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Levan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Levan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Levan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Levan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Levan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Levan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Levan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Levan falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Levan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Levan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Levan

The surname Levan originated in the Brittany region of northwestern France during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Breton word "leven," meaning "lion" or "brave." This name likely referred to someone who was considered courageous or lion-hearted.

One of the earliest known references to the name Levan can be found in the cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur in Redon, Brittany, dating back to the 11th century. The document mentions a nobleman named Riwallon Levan, who granted lands to the abbey.

In the 12th century, the name Levan appeared in the records of the Duchy of Brittany, associated with several noble families. One notable figure was Eudes Levan (c. 1150-1220), a knight who fought in the Third Crusade and later became a vassal of the Duke of Brittany.

As the Levan family spread throughout Brittany, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Levayn, Levain, and Levane. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.

During the 13th century, a branch of the Levan family settled in the town of Lannion, in the Côtes-d'Armor region of Brittany. The town's name was originally spelled "Lanion," and it is possible that the surname Levan was derived from this place name.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Levan was Jean Levan (c. 1460-1522), a Breton scholar and poet who authored several works in the Breton language. His writings provide valuable insights into the culture and language of medieval Brittany.

Another prominent individual was Françoise Levan (c. 1525-1598), a noblewoman from Rennes who played a significant role in the French Wars of Religion. She was known for her support of the Protestant cause and her efforts to protect Huguenot refugees.

In the 17th century, the Levan family expanded beyond Brittany, with members settling in other parts of France and even venturing to the New World. One such individual was Pierre Levan (c. 1630-1692), a French explorer and fur trader who established a trading post in present-day Wisconsin.

Another notable figure was Jacques Levan (c. 1665-1734), a French military officer who served in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general and was awarded the Order of Saint Louis for his service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Levan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Levan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 7 Levans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.59x
Staffordshire 5 7.60x
Midlothian 3 11.49x
Dunbartonshire 2 38.17x
Hampshire 1 2.50x
Kent 1 1.50x
Sussex 1 3.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 5 Levans recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.81x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 5 98.81x
Westminster St James 4 200.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 28.57x
Cardross 2 317.46x
St Pancras London 2 12.76x
Arundel 1 555.56x
Deptford St Paul 1 19.49x
Hampstead London 1 33.00x
Ryde 1 116.28x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Levan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
S. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Levan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 2
Edward 2
Henry 1
John 1
William 1

FAQ

Levan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Levan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Levan surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Levan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Levan a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Levan surname mean?

A French occupational surname derived from "levain," referring to a baker who uses leaven (yeast) in bread-making.

What does the Levan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Levan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.