Levin
A Jewish surname derived from the Biblical tribe of Levi, referring to descendants of Levite priests.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 22,245 Americans carry the last name Levin. That puts it at #1,876 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.49 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,408 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Levin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
22K
1 in 15,408
Census rank
#1,876
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 19,144 bearers of the surname Levin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.49 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1876th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Levin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Levin
The surname Levin is of Russian origin and can be traced back to the late 17th century. It is derived from the Hebrew name Levi, which means "joined" or "attached". The name was initially adopted by Jewish families residing in the Russian Empire, particularly in the areas of modern-day Ukraine and Belarus.
The earliest known record of the Levin surname appears in the Revishin Books, which were census records of the Jewish population in the Russian Empire during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These records documented the spread of the Levin name across various towns and villages in the Pale of Settlement, a region designated for Jewish residency within the Russian Empire.
One of the most notable figures with the Levin surname was Isaac Baer Levin (1828-1886), a renowned Russian-Jewish mathematician and educator. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and played a crucial role in the development of the modern education system in Russia.
Another prominent individual with the Levin surname was Yuri Levin (1935-2018), a Russian physicist and astrophysicist. He was renowned for his work on gravitational waves and black hole physics, and his contributions were recognized with numerous awards and honors.
In the realm of literature, the Levin surname is associated with the acclaimed Russian writer Leonid Levin (1904-1972). His works, which often explored themes of Jewish identity and the Soviet experience, earned him widespread recognition and a place among the most influential Russian writers of the 20th century.
The Levin surname also has a strong connection to the world of music. One notable figure is the Russian-American composer and pianist Vladimir Levin (1898-1960), whose compositions blended elements of Russian folk music with classical traditions.
Finally, it is worth mentioning David Levin (1942-2019), an American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the prestigious private equity firm Warburg Pincus and was widely respected for his leadership and philanthropic efforts in various fields, including education and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Levin
Among Census respondents with the surname Levin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Levin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Levin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Black or African American0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Levin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,721 | #1,876 | -9.0% |
| Count | 19,070 | 19,144 | 0.4% |
| Per 100K | 7.07 | 6.49 | -8.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Levin bearers went from 19,070 to 19,144 (+0.4% change). The surname moved down 155 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,721 to #1,876.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Levin
FAQ
Levin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Levin?
The surname Levin holds position #1,876 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 22,245 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.49 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Levin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Levin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.