NameCensus.

UK surname

Levy

A Jewish surname referring to the Levites, a biblical tribe of religious functionaries and temple workers.

In the 1881 census there were 3,774 people recorded with the Levy surname, ranking it #1,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,849, ranked #1,396, down from #1,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Levy is 7,646 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.5%.

1881 census count

3,774

Ranked #1,214

Modern count

4,849

2016, ranked #1,396

Peak year

1911

7,646 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Levy had 3,774 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,849 in 2016, ranked #1,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,646 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Levy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Levy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Levy 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 1,796 #1,610
1861 historical 1,508 #1,872
1881 historical 3,774 #1,214
1891 historical 4,471 #1,054
1901 historical 6,909 #803
1911 historical 7,646 #683
1997 modern 4,836 #1,356
1998 modern 5,039 #1,355
1999 modern 5,045 #1,365
2000 modern 4,999 #1,365
2001 modern 4,847 #1,377
2002 modern 5,014 #1,352
2003 modern 4,885 #1,351
2004 modern 4,884 #1,349
2005 modern 4,781 #1,362
2006 modern 4,697 #1,392
2007 modern 4,741 #1,394
2008 modern 4,716 #1,404
2009 modern 4,817 #1,412
2010 modern 5,022 #1,387
2011 modern 4,922 #1,393
2012 modern 4,818 #1,393
2013 modern 4,974 #1,374
2014 modern 4,959 #1,389
2015 modern 4,892 #1,391
2016 modern 4,849 #1,396

Geography

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Where Levys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet and Harrow. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 014 Barnet
2 Barnet 035 Barnet
3 Barnet 032 Barnet
4 Barnet 028 Barnet
5 Harrow 001 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Levy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Levy

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Levy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Levy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Levy is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Levy 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

Levy falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Levy 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Levy

The surname Levy originates from the Hebrew language and has its roots in the ancient biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Levi", which refers to the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament.

The Levites were a specific group within the tribe of Levi who were designated to serve as priests and assistants in the religious rituals and ceremonies of the Israelites. The name Levy, therefore, became associated with those who belonged to this prominent tribe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Levy can be traced back to the medieval period in various parts of Europe, particularly in France, Germany, and England. In these regions, the name was often spelled as "Levi" or "Levey" before the more modern spelling of "Levy" became widely adopted.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Levy was Rabbi Gershom ben Judah, also known as Gershom the Light of the Diaspora, who lived in France between 960 and 1040 CE. He was a renowned Talmudic scholar and is credited with establishing several important legal and ethical principles that became influential in Jewish communities across Europe.

Another notable figure was Judah Halevi, a celebrated Spanish Jewish philosopher and poet, who lived from 1075 to 1141 CE. His works, particularly the philosophical treatise "Kuzari" and his poetry collection "Diwan," have had a lasting impact on Jewish thought and literature.

In England, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Levy can be found in the Pipe Rolls of 1185, which mention a Jewish landowner named Aaron Levy in the county of Lincolnshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Levy was also associated with several prominent Jewish families in various parts of Europe, such as the Levy family of Avignon in France and the Levy family of Mainz in Germany.

Another notable individual with the surname Levy was David Levy, an English mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1766 to 1822. He is best known for his work in celestial mechanics and for co-discovering several comets, including the periodic comet now known as Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

These examples illustrate the long and rich history of the surname Levy, which has been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Levy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Levy 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 2,402 Levys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2,402 6.52x
Lancashire 397 0.91x
Surrey 236 1.31x
Yorkshire 93 0.25x
Warwickshire 86 0.93x
Kent 82 0.65x
Hampshire 69 0.91x
Durham 66 0.60x
Berkshire 46 1.66x
Gloucestershire 29 0.40x
Midlothian 26 0.53x
Essex 25 0.34x
Sussex 21 0.34x
Derbyshire 20 0.35x
Northumberland 17 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 16 1.03x
Devon 16 0.21x
Denbighshire 12 0.86x
Hertfordshire 12 0.47x
Glamorgan 11 0.17x
Leicestershire 9 0.22x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.23x
East Lothian 8 1.64x
Staffordshire 8 0.06x
Lanarkshire 7 0.06x
Suffolk 7 0.16x
Northamptonshire 5 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.10x
Renfrewshire 4 0.14x
Somerset 4 0.07x
Sutherland 4 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.13x
Cheshire 3 0.04x
Cornwall 3 0.07x
Wiltshire 3 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.09x
Channel Islands 2 0.18x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Berwickshire 1 0.22x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.12x
Fife 1 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.10x
Inverness-shire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 416 Levys recorded in 1881 and an index of 150.15x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 416 150.15x
Whitechapel London 331 91.16x
Mile End Old Town London 327 41.71x
St Botolph Aldgate London 159 209.62x
Mile End New Town London 139 190.99x
Bethnal Green London 115 7.19x
Cheetham 111 34.05x
Paddington London 101 7.46x
St George In East London 96 27.71x
Lambeth 88 2.74x
Liverpool 77 2.90x
St Pancras London 69 2.33x
Islington London 62 1.74x
Birmingham 61 1.97x
Manchester 57 2.90x
Newington 57 4.19x
Shoreditch London 52 3.26x
Kensington London 46 2.25x
Old Artillery Ground 45 141.91x
St James Dukes Place 45 571.79x
Southwark St George Martyr 37 4.99x
St George Bloomsbury 36 17.04x
West Derby 36 2.82x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 35 67.13x
Leeds 33 1.60x
Bishopwearmouth 31 3.30x
Hackney London 31 1.50x
Shalbourn 30 289.58x
St Marylebone London 28 1.42x
Edgbaston 25 8.68x
St Anne Soho London 22 10.46x
Westminster St James 21 5.55x
Chatham 19 5.50x
Minster In Sheppey 19 9.13x
Bow London 18 3.84x
St Martin In Fields 18 8.16x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 2.45x
Toxteth Park 17 1.15x
Andover 15 21.03x
Chelsea London 15 1.35x
Everton 15 1.08x
Llangendeirne 14 48.63x
Middlesbrough 13 2.74x
West Ham 13 0.81x
Brighton 12 0.96x
Greenwich 12 2.05x
Hammersmith London 12 1.32x
Linthorpe 12 5.51x
St Luke London 12 2.03x
Bermondsey 11 1.00x
Broughton In Salford 10 2.50x
St George Martyr London 10 13.40x
Westbury On Trym 10 4.09x
Bradford 9 1.02x
Bromley London 9 1.11x
Derby St Werburgh 9 2.70x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 1.52x
South Leith 9 1.62x
South Shields 9 9.22x
South Stoneham 9 5.50x
St George Hanover Square 9 1.39x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 1.12x
Bishop Stortford 8 9.43x
Bristol St Peter 8 30.96x
Elswick 8 1.83x
Kings Somborne 8 50.51x
Prestonkirk 8 32.79x
St Botolph Aldersgate 8 18.94x
All Hallows Barking 7 76.17x
Battersea 7 0.52x
Clerkenwell London 7 0.81x
Edinburgh New 7 18.26x
Hampstead London 7 1.22x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 2.14x
Ratcliffe London 7 3.44x
Salford 7 0.54x
Shadwell London 7 6.79x
Shotton 7 25.83x
St Giles In Fields London 7 3.87x
Swansea Town 7 1.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 148
Elizabeth 77
Mary 74
Esther 73
Hannah 69
Rebecca 69
Annie 53
Jane 53
Rachel 53
Leah 50
Julia 49
Kate 41
Fanny 40
Amelia 38
Rose 33
Rachael 30
Alice 27
Maria 23
Betsy 22
Emma 21
Emily 20
Louisa 19
Catherine 18
Eliza 18
Ann 17
Sophia 17
Matilda 16
Caroline 15
Florence 15
Ellen 14
Miriam 14
Rosa 14
Frances 13
Deborah 12
Priscilla 12
Charlotte 11
Ada 10
Adelaide 10
Anne 10
Dinah 10
Eva 10
Clara 9
Dora 9
Martha 9
Rosetta 9
Edith 8
Isabella 8
Margaret 8
Phoebe 8
Kitty 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 108
Henry 87
Abraham 84
Isaac 72
Lewis 70
Samuel 70
John 64
Jacob 52
David 44
Morris 41
William 39
Solomon 37
Charles 36
Louis 32
Harris 29
Mark 29
Edward 27
Thomas 25
George 24
Israel 23
Moses 23
Nathan 22
Alfred 21
Aaron 20
Harry 20
James 20
Benjamin 19
Hyman 18
Moss 18
Arthur 17
Simon 17
Albert 16
Michael 16
Alexander 15
Emanuel 15
Barnett 14
Myer 14
Woolf 14
Robert 13
Soloman 13
Elias 12
Ernest 12
Hyam 11
Frederick 10
Reuben 10
Walter 10
Maurice 9
Philip 9
Phillip 9
Lazarus 8

FAQ

Levy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Levy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,774 people were recorded with the Levy surname. That placed it at #1,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Levy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,849 in 2016. That gives Levy a modern rank of #1,396.

What does the Levy surname mean?

A Jewish surname referring to the Levites, a biblical tribe of religious functionaries and temple workers.

What does the Levy map show?

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