Surname Livingstone - Meaning and Origin

Livingstone: What does the surname Livingstone mean?

The surname Livingstone is of Scottish origin and is derived from a place in West Lothian. The name originally was Lévingstún, which comes from an Old English personal name, Leofing, and the Old English term "tún" that means settlement or farm. Hence, it can be translated as "Leofing's settlement" or "Leofing's town". The surname became famous through people like David Livingstone, a 19th-century missionary and explorer who is renowned for his exploration of Africa. Nowadays the name is spread widely in English-speaking countries and is used as both a first name and a surname.

Livingstone: Where does the name Livingstone come from?

The surname Livingstone is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the village of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. The name was first recorded in the mid-12th century as 'Levingestun', which means 'Leving's town'. The settlement was named after a Flemish man known as Leving who settled in the area.

In some cases the surname Livingstone may also be of Irish origin, being an Anglicised version of the Gaelic name O'Duinnshléibhe, which means 'descendant of Donn of the mountain'.

Today, the surname Livingstone is most common in Scotland and England. It can also be found in smaller numbers throughout the British Isles and in countries of the British Commonwealth, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Due to immigration patterns, the surname can also be found in the United States. One of the most notable persons with this surname was Dr. David Livingstone, a Scottish physician and explorer of Africa in the mid-19th century.

Variations of the surname Livingstone

The surname Livingstone has several variants or alternate spellings. It can also be spelled as Livingston without the 'e'. Prior to standardized spelling, the surname was often spelled phonetically as Levingston, Levingstoun, and Levingstone. The name is of Scottish origin, deriving from a place in West Lothian named Livingston. The exact origin of the name itself is debated but it is either derived from Leving who was a son of a Scottish king or from an early settler in the region named Leving.

The surname itself was sometimes anglicized into different forms like Leveston, Leveystone, or Leviston by people of the same lineage upon emigration to English-speaking regions. Similarly, when members of the family moved to Ireland, another variant, MacDunlevey, appeared, derived from the Gaelic 'MacDunshleibhe', which itself translates to 'son of Livingston'.

Interestingly, the name Livingstone was also adopted by Jewish immigrants as an anglicised form of the Ashkenazi Jewish surname Levenson or Lewinson.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that spelling variations can depend heavily on various factors including the origin country, immigration, and changing cultural contexts.

Famous people with the name Livingstone

• Malcolm Livingstone: Scottish sculptor from Fife.
• Meaghan Livingstone: Canadian professional golfer.
• David Livingstone: 19th century British explorer and missionary who charted much of Africa.
• Bob Livingstone: Canadian singer-songwriter and film composer.
• Molly Livingstone: Canadian actress, writer and stand-up comedian.
• Bill Livingstone: Scottish born Canadian bar owner and politician.
• Sarah Livingstone: American comic book artist.
• Robbie Livingstone: Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder for Falkirk F.C.
• Bryon Livingstone: Canadian sports broadcaster and television personality.
• Michael Livingstone: American actor, producer and director.
• Mark Livingstone: British Olympic swimmer who was the first to swim a butterfly leg in a relay race.
• Rob Livingstone: Australian rugby league player.
• Charmaine Livingstone: Canadian actress and writer.
• Clare Livingstone: British singer and member of the English rock group, Sasha and the Fizz.
• Catriona Livingstone: Scottish dancer and stuntwoman.
• Craig Livingstone: former White House official in charge of security clearances.
• Paul Livingstone: Canadian-born contemporary musician, composer and improviser.
• Derek Livingstone: Scottish footballer who played in goal.
• Gordon Livingstone: Canadian actor and television host.
• Richard Livingstone: Australian actor, film producer and screenwriter.

Other surnames

Livingston