Levi (surname)

Levi or Lévi is a Jewish surname. It is a transliteration of the Hebrew word לוי. Another spelling of the name is Levy (or Lévy). According to Jewish tradition, people with the surname have patrilineal descent from the Levites of the Bible. In 2019, it was revealed as the second most common surname in Israel (after Cohen). In addition to its Jewish origins, the surname Levi also has distinct Italian origins: Toponymic origin: In some cases, the name is derived from the Valchiavenna region in Northern Italy. Notable examples are Father Abramo Levi and the producer Romano Levi, whose family was of Catholic (not Jewish) descent and native to this area. Apheretic form: It can also be an abbreviated or apheretic form of the Italian surnames Diotallevi or Allevi. For a broader overview of the name's distribution and history, see Levi (cognome).