Levine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Levine is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources.Two of the most common types of Jewish family names are patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother’s given name. Levine is a Jewish name that was originally derived from the Hebrew male given name Levi, which means joining. The name was extremely popular because it was borne by Levi, the son of the Biblical figures Jacob and Leah, who was the Hebrew patriarch and the ancestor of the Levites. The Levites, the Israelite tribe that was not alloted land, were the priests or assistants of the priest in the temple.

Levine Ranking

In the United States, the name Levine is the 950^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1

 Levine migration to New Zealand+

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Levine Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Edward Levine, aged 32, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Duchess of Argyle” in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Levine (post 1700)+

• Leon Levine (1937-2023), American businessman and philanthropist, founder of the Family Dollar chain of discount stores in 1959
• Ellen Levine (1942-2022), American media executive, Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines (2006-2016), responsible for the launches of numerous successful magazines, including O: The Oprah Magazine and Food Network Magazine
• Mark Jay Levine (1938-2022), American jazz pianist, trombonist, composer, author and educator from Concord, New Hampshire
• Baruch Abraham Levine (1930-2021), American Skirball Professor Emeritus of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at New York University from Cleveland, Ohio
• Rachel Leland Levine (b. 1957), American pediatrician, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 to 2021, Assistant Secretary for Health
• Beth Cindy Levine (1960-2020), American investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Professor of Internal Medicine and Microbiology
• Mr. Alan Levine B.E.M., British Chairman for Welfare Division at The Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to Ex-Service Personnel 2
• Harold I. Levine (1922-2017), American mathematician who was professor at Stanford University
• Stephen Levine (1937-2016), American poet, author and teacher
• Donald Nathan Levine (1931-2015), American sociologist, educator, social theorist and writer