Levy/Levi- ashkenaz or sefard?

yo'ma

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 3:27 pm

My children and I were going through their class list to see how many ashkenaz and sefard names there were. The reason we were doing this was because I think there's about 85% sefardim in the school and my ds thinks there's less. I know I'm right Wink

, except there might even be more!! Anywho, when we got to the name Levy/Levi, I thought it was an ashkenaz name and my dd said that her friend is sefard. I'm not doubting her about her friend, but I'm curious what you think when you hear the name.

mamaleh

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 3:48 pm

In my experience it can go either way. In general, last names are not always a clear indicator of ashkenaz or sefard. I know a Sefardi family with the name Goldberg and Ashkenazi's with the name Sasson.

Mimisinger

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 4:15 pm

Well my 100% German grandmother is a Levy so, yeah, ashkenaz.

Simple1

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 5:12 pm

It can be both. I know of a few Levy's that are sefard and some that are ashkenaz.

Aribenj

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 6:44 pm

Why would it have to be one or the other? Assuming the last name is based on being descendant from Shevet Levy, it is safe to assume that there were Levi/Levys both in Sefardic and Ashkenazi communities. I mean, Leviim aren't only Ashkenazi or Sefardi, right?

On another note, in my experience I've noticed that Levy is usually ashkenazi while Levi is usually sefardi

pina colada

Mon, Jun 07 2010, 6:58 pm

levy probably indicates they are a levy, the way cohen indicates someone is a kohen.

its both, sefard and ashkenaz

hadasa

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 7:38 am

Levi and Cohen are easily either. Now HAlevi is definitely from Edot Hamizrach.

Ruchel

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 9:00 am

Halevi is found among Sefardim and Italkim too.
Levi can be ANYTHING.
Wiki tells me some Levy and others (Albert) changed their name to Halevy.

Mrs Bissli

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 9:20 am

There are some prominant sephardi Levys.
If it's Halabi, it's definitely sephardi (meaning Aleppo).

life'sgreat

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:11 am

Why does it have be only one? Weren't there Leviim from both?

yo'ma

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:13 am

life'sgreat wrote:

Why does it have be only one? Weren't there Leviim from both?

It doesn't have to be one or the other, it was just a question.

Are all Levy/I's and Cohen's, Leviim and Cohanim?

Ruchel

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:19 am

yo'ma wrote:

life'sgreat wrote:

Why does it have be only one? Weren't there Leviim from both?

It doesn't have to be one or the other, it was just a question.

Are all Levy/I's and Cohen's, Leviim and Cohanim?

life'sgreat

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:22 am

yo'ma wrote:

life'sgreat wrote:

Why does it have be only one? Weren't there Leviim from both?

It doesn't have to be one or the other, it was just a question.

Are all Levy/I's and Cohen's, Leviim and Cohanim?

That's a great question. I would think so, but one never knows. Names have been interchanged, adapted etc..

yo'ma

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:23 am

Ruchel wrote:

yo'ma wrote:

life'sgreat wrote:

Why does it have be only one? Weren't there Leviim from both?

It doesn't have to be one or the other, it was just a question.

Are all Levy/I's and Cohen's, Leviim and Cohanim?

I didn't think so, so that's why the question

Quote:

Weren't there Leviim from both?

doesn't accurately answer the question. I do have the answer now, so it doesn't make a difference, even though it didn't before either Wink

Ruchel

Tue, Jun 08 2010, 11:25 am

Some over history took the mom's surname, or even the grandmother's, when the family was more famous.
Some lo alenu lost the Cohen status.
Some really have another close sounding name and it got transliterated that way (Lavi/Levi).
Some lo alenu got converted - I went to school with a Xtian Sarah Cohen, she "thought she had some Jewish roots from back then in Spain" Crying