Where did the surname Levitsky come from in Russian? On this occasion, linguists offer several versions. One of them speaks of the Jewish version, the other of the Slavic. Within these versions, inconsistencies are also observed. Details about the origin and meaning of the surname Levitsky - in the article.
Among the Jewish population
One version speaks of the Jewish origin of the surname Levitsky. In different countries, the Jewish population received generic names at different times. But the beginning of this process mainly refers to the end of the 18th century, and it continued in the 19th century.
By that time, laws had been passed in Austria-Hungary and the German states, as well as in the Russian Empire, which obliged the Jews to accept family names. In these countries there was a special order for this and special commissions were created, responsible for the census and “gifting” the names of this category of residents.
In Russia, this movement began at the end of the 18th century, after parts of the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus were annexed to it, which followed the partition of Poland. At the same time, a large number of Jews who historically did not have surnames appeared on our territory. They had only names and patronymics. For example, Isaac, son of Jacob.
Studying the origin of the surname Levitsky, we proceed to a direct examination of its formation among the Jews.
On behalf of
During censuses, they were introduced into revision tales, giving them surnames either by place of residence or by profession. The assignment of a generic name by the name of one of the parents or ancestor was also popular. One of these names is Levi or Levi. The suffix “tsky” was added to it. From this name came such names as:
- Levinov;
- Levinson;
- Levin;
- Levenchuk;
- Levinsky;
- Levenguk;
- Levinovich;
- Levinman;
- Levitan;
- Levenstam;
- Levinchik;
- Levitanus.
Levi was the son of Jacob, who was the ancestor of the Jewish priests - the Levites.
Jewish clergy
This generic name has at least three thousand years. From this tribe came Moses and his brother Aron. The bearers of this denomination preserved it in the most thorough way for thousands of years, remembering their belonging to the Cohen priests.
This title-surname could take different forms, such as Leviticus, Levi, Leviticus (Aramaic version), and also with the addition of the article ha, which in Russian was written as Halevi or Halevi. Often such a surname can be found among immigrants from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Riga, Odessa, Kiev, Poltava region.
Since the status of the Levitical priest among the Jews is transmitted along the male line, that is, the son of the Leviticus is also a Leviticus, the people surrounding Jews began to perceive this term as a family nickname. Thus, when the Jews began to be given surnames, many of the priests received the generic name Levi. From it the surname Levitsky originates.
Popov's name
A number of researchers support the version of the origin of the surname Levitsky from the Hebrew word "Leviticus". But at the same time, they believe that this is the so-called priest surname. Until the 18th century among Russian clergymen, generic names, as a rule, were formed in accordance with the place of their ministry.
But practice has shown that in this way it is difficult to distinguish them from those around as specific people. Thus, the main goal of assigning surnames is not achieved. Due to the fact that many of the local residents received the same generic name, it was difficult to determine which of them is a clergyman.
For this reason, a new type of surnames arose, attributed to the "priests". They were formed from the name of the temple and ended in "sky" and "tsky". Then they began to produce them from all sorts of “charitable” and beautiful words, but invariably with the indicated suffixes. One of these words was “Levite, ” that is, a priest.
In conclusion of the consideration of the question of how the Levitsky surname happened and what it means, one more version should be said.
