Surname Lefand - Meaning and Origin

Lefand: What does the surname Lefand mean?

The surname Lefand is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, which is the collective name for the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The name originated from the Yiddish expression, lefonden, meaning "to leaven" or "to expand". This surname could have been adopted in reference to the traditional Ashkenazic practice of leavening bread before baking and could serve as a reminder of the importance of baking bread in an Ashkenazi family.

The name Lefand is thought to have derived from the Hebrew word, chiful, which means “panel”, “divider” or “dividing wall”. This was likely adopted as an occupational name, perhaps for someone who was an owner or builder of paneled walls divided their properties.

The surname Lefand may also have been an ornamental name taken on by Ashkenazi Jews in reference to the Hebrew term lev, which means “heart” or “mind”. This was likely adopted as a metaphor for the expansion of one’s heart or mind.

In Jewish tradition, a name is often derived from a person’s character traits or those of someone in their family. As such, the surname Lefand can be seen as a reminder of the importance of expanding the mind and heart in line with Jewish teaching.

Lefand: Where does the name Lefand come from?

The last name Lefand is an uncommon surname in today's world, but can be found mainly in North America and Canada with some presence in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. The Lefand name is of European origins, although not a common name even in its home countries. It is believed to have roots in areas now known as Poland, Austria, Romania and the Ukraine, and it is also considered to be a Jewish last name of Ashkenazi descent.

In the United States, Lefand is primarily found in New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. It is also especially common within the Jewish diaspora, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews.

The Lefand name has many beautiful variations and spellings, including Lavant, Lavent, Lefen, Lefent, Leffand, Lefandt, Lefan, Lefain, and other spellings. It is important to note that the spelling of Lefand is somewhat unique, so if researching ancestry or trying to locate someone with the surname, other variations may need to be looked into as well.

Overall, the last name Lefand may be more rare than other last names, but it can still be found today around the world, and especially in North America.

Variations of the surname Lefand

The surname Lefand is derived from the middle Hebrew given name "Levi" which means "joined together". The surname can be spelled in a variety of ways, such as Lefand, Laefand, Leifand, Leffen, Leffand, Lefen, Lefenne, and Lefon.

The surnames derived from the Lefand root were very common in the Middle East and Diaspora Jewish communities. In the United States, variants of the surname Lefand can be found commonly among Jews whose families emigrated from Russia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

Variant spellings of the surname Lefand can also be found across French-speaking communities, with the French form of the name being “Lefont” or “Lefonts”. The French spelling may be found among French-Canadian-American families originally hailing from Europe, as well as among French-speaking Sephardic families.

The spelling of Lefand can also be used interchangeably with the surnames Lefante and LaFont. The LaFont variant is derived from the Spanish and Italian surname “De la Font” and, like the French form of the name, traces its roots to French, Italian and Spanish-speaking Jewish communities.

Finally, the surname Lefant, which is derived from the Italian and Ashkenazic form of the name, can be found among Italian, German, Greek and Austrian Diaspora communities. In rare cases, the surname Lefant may also be found among Sephardic families.

Famous people with the name Lefand

• Jennifer Lefand: Olympic swimmer who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Seth Lefand: retired NBA player who played for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks during his career.
• Beverly Lefand: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter.
• Joe Lefand: Emmy Award-winning producer and television writer.
• Robert Lefand: professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
• Anne Lefand: film and television actress who has appeared in shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, and Mad Men.
• Jerry Lefand: television and film director with credits on shows like Friday Night Lights, Monk, Gilmore Girls, and Parks and Recreation.
• Peter Lefand: a psychologist and lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis.
• Billy Lefand: an American professional tennis player who ranked in the top 50 singles players nationally as of 2013.
• Melina Lefand: a fashion designer whose designs have been worn by the Grammy Award-winning artist, Kelly Clarkson.

Other surnames

Lefanu