Surname Living - Meaning and Origin

Living: What does the surname Living mean?

The surname Living is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'Leofing' which primarily means 'Dear One' or 'Beloved'. It also has roots in 'lufian' which means 'to love'. The name could have been originally given as a nickname to a loved one or someone who was sincerely cherished in their community. Over the years the pronunciation and spelling of the name evolved and it became the surname 'Living'. Surnames were often used during the Middle Ages in order to distinguish individuals with the same personal names, so a name like 'Living' might also indicate a certain characteristic, demeanor, or occupation related to the idea of love or being loved. Like all surnames, its exact interpretation can vary based on regional variations and historical usage. Today, it is found in several English-speaking countries around the globe.

Living: Where does the name Living come from?

The surname Living is of English origin. It was originally derived from the medieval personal name, "Leofwine," which is comprised of two elements, "leof" meaning dear or beloved, and "wine" meaning friend. Over time, "Leofwine" transformed into the surname Living.

While specific records of its first use as a family name are scarce, the surname and its variations such as Levine, Levign, and Leving appeared in the medieval period and grew in usage as the practice of adopting surnames became more common in English-speaking regions.

Today, the surname Living is not very common worldwide. However, it can be found in certain areas, predominantly in English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada. For those bearing the surname Living, the highest concentrations are in England and Scotland, as per the records on surname distribution databases. However, it important to note that variations of the surname found in different regions may have distinct origins, especially in non-English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Living

The surname Living may derive from a nickname, an occupational name or a habitational name. Variations of this surname owing to regional dialects, phonetic spelling, or translation include Livinge, Leving, Levings, Livinges, Livings, Lyving, Lyvings, Lyvinge, Lyvinges, and Laevens.

Its origin could be linked to the Old English given name Leofwine, combining "leof," which means dear or beloved, and "wine," meaning friend. Hence, Levings or Levens may also be potential variants.

It could also stem from the word "liveyn," which meant a trusty servant or retainer during the middle ages, leading to surnames like Liveyns, Livings, Levin or Leving.

Another possibility is that Living might be a habitational surname originating from a place called Lyneham in Oxfordshire. The place name means "the homestead of Leofa's people," from an Old English personal name and "-ingas," a tribal name suffix meaning 'followers of, people of'.

Furthermore, it could also have germanic origins where it evolved as Lustig, Liebig, Liefke, Liebich or Liebsch.

Lastly, many people named Levin, Levine, Levins, and Levinson chose to simplify or Anglicize their names to Living in the English-speaking world, especially among Jewish immigrant populations.

Famous people with the name Living

• Chris Living: professional Australian football player
• Laura Living: American actress featured in TV series Dallas
• Tony Living: English singer-songwriter and comedian
• Vernon Living: NBA player
• Ricky Living: actor, featured in TV series Supernatural
• Ramon Living: Spanish actor
• Linda Living: Australian author
• Bobby Living: American professional golf player
• Cornel Living: Samoan American professional wrestler
• Greg Living: American professional basketball player
• Kenneth Living: renowned American actor and director
• Leonard Living Jr.: American professional tennis player
• Brino Living: American television actor most known for his role in the TV series Rudy
• Damian Living: British musician
• William Living: American World War II soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
• John Living: American actor, most notably featured in the film The Seven Year Itch
• Eliza Living: American country music singer
• Ed Living: actor from the United Kingdom
• Cody Living: American comedian
• Daniel Living: American television actor, featured in TV series Charmed and Roswell

Other surnames

LivingstonLivingstone