UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place named Livingston, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Levingston surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Manchester and Riccarton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Levingston is 141 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.6%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1851
141 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Levingston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Levingston surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 141 | #13,507 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 62 | #28,991 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 29 | #34,948 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Manchester, Riccarton, Long Benton and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Riccarton | Ayr |
| 4 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| 5 | Dean | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Levingston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Levingston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Levingston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Levingston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Levingston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Levingston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Levingston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Levingston has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "leofing" meaning "beloved" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have referred to a person from a beloved or favored town or village.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Robert de Leuuingtona is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.
The name Levingston is also associated with various place names in England, such as Levington in Suffolk and Levington in Yorkshire. These locations may have contributed to the development of the surname, as it was common practice for people to adopt surnames based on the places they were from or associated with.
Notable figures throughout history who bore the surname Levingston include:
1. Sir Richard Levingston (c. 1340 - 1399), an English knight who served under Edward III and fought in the Hundred Years' War. 2. William Levingston (c. 1510 - 1587), an English merchant and alderman of the City of London, known for his philanthropic endeavors. 3. Elizabeth Levingston (c. 1620 - 1680), an English landowner and benefactor, who established a school and almshouses in her hometown of Levington, Suffolk. 4. John Levingston (1675 - 1737), a British colonial administrator who served as the governor of New Jersey from 1703 to 1708. 5. Mary Levingston (1788 - 1865), an English writer and poet, celebrated for her works on nature and rural life.
While the Levingston surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, with connections to both place names and Old English terminology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Levingston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 11 Levingstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 11 | 5.60x |
| Fife | 3 | 30.58x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.73x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.77x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 66.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halliwell in Lancashire leads with 7 Levingstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 972.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Halliwell | 7 | 972.22x |
| Little Bolton | 4 | 158.10x |
| Abbotshall | 3 | 810.81x |
| Brasted | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Galashiels | 1 | 181.82x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 61.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Levingston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Levingston surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Levingston a modern rank of #36,059.
A locational surname originating from a place named Livingston, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Levingston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.