NameCensus.

UK surname

Levien

A Levantine name of Hebrew roots referring to a descendant of the Levi tribe.

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Levien surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broadland, Torbay and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Levien is 116 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 178.4%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1911

116 bearers

Map years

2

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Levien had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Levien surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Levien surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Levien 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 66 #28,541
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 85 #29,578
2000 modern 82 #29,922
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 80 #30,387
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 71 #31,816
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 71 #32,753
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Leviens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broadland, Torbay, Northumberland, Cambridge and East Staffordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broadland 002 Broadland
2 Torbay 014 Torbay
3 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
4 Cambridge 012 Cambridge
5 East Staffordshire 014 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Levien

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Levien

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Levien, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Levien surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Levien 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Levien is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Levien 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

Levien falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Levien is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Levien

The surname LEVIEN is believed to have originated from the German language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Löwe," meaning "lion," which was often used as a symbolic representation of strength, courage, and nobility.

During the medieval period, surnames were commonly adopted by families and individuals to distinguish themselves from others within their communities. In the case of LEVIEN, it is likely that the name was initially given to someone who displayed characteristics associated with a lion, such as bravery or physical prowess.

The earliest known records of the LEVIEN surname can be found in various German chronicles and documents dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a mention of a knight named Johann von Levien, who fought in the Crusades and was honored for his valor in battle during the late 12th century.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Levyn, Levin, and Levine. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

Over the centuries, several prominent individuals have borne the LEVIEN surname. One such figure was Hans Levien, a German painter and engraver born in 1501, who is renowned for his intricate woodcut illustrations and religious artwork. Another notable bearer of the name was Johann Levien, a German philosopher and theologian born in 1629, whose works explored the intersection of reason and faith.

In the literary world, Siegfried Levien, a German author born in 1914, gained recognition for his novels and short stories depicting life in post-war Germany. His works, such as "The Crusaders" and "The Wanderer," offered insightful narratives on societal changes and the human experience during that era.

Moving into the 20th century, Karl Levien, born in 1892, was a German architect and urban planner who contributed significantly to the development of modern cities. His innovative designs and urban planning concepts influenced the layout and infrastructure of several major cities across Europe.

While the LEVIEN surname may have originated in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical roots and associations with strength, courage, and nobility remain an integral part of its identity and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Levien families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Levien 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 25 Leviens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.93x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 6.93x
Lancashire 6 1.40x
Surrey 6 3.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 7 Leviens recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.10x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 7 24.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 88.24x
Kensington London 5 24.93x
Battersea 4 30.12x
Hammersmith London 4 44.99x
Spitalfields London 3 110.70x
Stoke Newington London 3 106.76x
Camberwell 2 8.68x
St Marylebone London 2 10.38x
Fulham London 1 19.12x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Levien surname: questions and answers

How common was the Levien surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Levien surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Levien surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Levien a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Levien surname mean?

A Levantine name of Hebrew roots referring to a descendant of the Levi tribe.

What does the Levien map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Levien 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.