Explore the Family Name Levenson
The meaning of Levenson
Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Levinson.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Levenson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Levenson experienced a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Levenson was ranked 11,518 in terms of popularity and had a count of 2,506 occurrences. By 2010, the popularity rank had dropped to 12,255, reflecting a 6.4% decrease, although the total count increased marginally by 1.28% to reach 2,538. The proportion per 100,000 individuals also declined by 7.53%, signaling a general downward trend in the surname's prevalence.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,518 | #12,255 | -6.4% |
| Count | 2,506 | 2,538 | 1.28% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.93 | 0.86 | -7.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Levenson
In terms of ethnicity, the 2000-2010 period saw noticeable shifts among those bearing the Levenson surname, as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage identifying as White decreased from 96.89% to 93.26%. However, increases were seen across other ethnic identities. Asian/Pacific Islander representation rose by 56.82%, Hispanic identity increased by 63.89%, and those identifying with two or more races grew by 108.82%. Notably, individuals identifying as Black saw a significant increase of 575%, albeit from a low base of 0.28% in 2000. A modest growth of 40% was also observed among American Indian and Alaskan Native identifiers, though it remained the smallest group at 0.28% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.89% | 93.26% | -3.75% |
| Black | 0.28% | 1.89% | 575% |
| Hispanic | 1.08% | 1.77% | 63.89% |
| Two or More Races | 0.68% | 1.42% | 108.82% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.88% | 1.38% | 56.82% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.2% | 0.28% | 40% |
Levenson ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Levenson is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 52.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (21.9%) and French & German (8.2%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Scandinavian, Iranian, Caucasian & Mesopotamian, and Vietnamese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 52.6% |
| British & Irish | 21.9% |
| French & German | 8.2% |
| Other | 17.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Levenson
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Levenson have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 45.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 45.90% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 45.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 45.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 45.90% |
What Levenson haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Levenson is R-CTS6, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS6 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include J-L26 and E-M5021, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Levy, Waldman, Levitt, Pearlman, Kaya, Leeds, Siegel, Levine, Yilmaz, Sobel.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Levenson surname are: K1a1b1a, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Levenson have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Levenson" Surname 53.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Levenson" Surname 16.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Levenson" Surname 15.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Levenson" Surname 13.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Levenson?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Levenson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition