Leavitt
A surname with uncertain roots, most likely an English name that later became established in America in several spelling forms.
The #2,743 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 23,509 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name Leavitt is usually treated as an English surname, but the exact root is not firmly settled from the excerpt provided. It may be connected with older English forms such as Leavit or Leaver, though this particular citation only shows the name as one among several recorded spellings. Because the excerpt is incidental rather than a direct etymology, the safest reading is that it is an English surname of uncertain derivation.
History
Leavitt is well established in the United States, where it appears in several early spelling forms, including Leavit. As with many surnames, the spelling likely stabilized only gradually after the name crossed between England and North America. The historical record shows the name in use by the 19th century, but the excerpt here does not provide enough detail to identify a single original family or place.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The 2010 U.S. Census counted about 13,133 bearers of Leavitt, ranking it 2,743rd nationwide.
From the historical record
“Leaver, 138. Leavit, 77. Leavitt, 439. Lebarm, 460. Le Barnes, 439, Lebarron, 350. Lebart, 439. Lebel, 88.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)