Surname Levasseur - Meaning and Origin
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Levasseur: What does the surname Levasseur mean?
The last name Levasseur is a French surname; it is derived from the Old French expression “levasseur” meaning “he who was born in a pale” or “he who was born in a brewing,” which most likely refers to a profession or family line. The name is typically found in northern France, especially Normandy, as well as parts of Belgium and Quebec.
Levasseur is thought to be an occupational name, derived from the name of the profession of someone who worked with and managed horses. As a professional name associated with this task, it connotes someone with good organizational and management skills, as well as expertise in dealing with horses.
The name has also been attributed to the French verb “Levasser” meaning “Lift”. This could suggest an occupational name associated with someone who engaged in lifting heavy weights or goods, such as freight.
Regardless of the original origins, the last name Levasseur is connected to French culture and is considered an honor to bear. Those who carry the Levasseur surname are reminded of the history and strength of the French bloodline, as well as the accomplishments of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisLevasseur: Where does the name Levasseur come from?
The surname Levasseur is common today primarily in France. This French surname is derived from the Latin term “levassor” meaning "one who rises up". It is a topographical name for someone who lived on the side of a hill or on rising ground. This origin makes it relatively common in the Normandy region in particular. Records of the surname Levasseur go back as far as the 12th century.
It is not a particularly common surname in the US but is found in several states. This includes California, Oklahoma, Ohio, and New York. It is more commonly found in New England states such as Maine and Vermont. In these areas, it is a direct French-Canadian import, most typically carried by descendants of the original Acadian settlers.
Elsewhere, the surname Levasseur is fairly rare. It pops up from time to time in countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. However, in general, the name is most associated with French culture and is most heavily concentrated in the Normandy region.
Variations of the surname Levasseur
The surname Levasseur is of either French or Germanic origin. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Levasseur, Lavasseur, Lavasier, LaVasseure, Lavasur, Levasere, Levassor, Levacre, Levacoux, Levasour, Levaxier, Levaxeur, and L'Evassor.
The oldest documented record of the Levasseur surname appear around the mid-1300s. It is believed the name derived from the Old French verb "laver," which means "to wash," with the suffix "-eur," which indicates one who does. It is possible the surname was used to indicate a one who worked as a washer of clothes or a fuller of cloth. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from other French words to describe a surname related to an occupation such as a “levasseur” meaning a “ditch digger,” or “levasseuse” meaning a “flight of steps,” or a “route” or a “path,” or “Levasson” meaning “being light-footed.”
The surname Levasseur has had many derivatives over the years. The French spelling often changed to Lavassor until the final spelling of Levasseur was adopted around the mid-1700s. Some families anglicised their name to Lasseur or Lazure and other variants can appear in records, especially in Canada as the name was introduced to the country in the late 1600s by French emigrants.
In Germany, the surname was often rendered as Levassar and other variants can appear in records. In Britain, the surname is spelt as Levassor. In certain parts of Yorkshire, England, the surname is rendered as Lassor. In various parts of France, it was recorded as Lavinsoir and Levassur.
The Levasseur surname spread to other countries with French colonization in the 1700s and 1800s such as Canada, the United States, Brazil, Switzerland and Africa. It is now a common surname throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Levasseur
- Richard Levasseur: Professional soccer player from Haiti who plays for the Montreal Impact.
- David Levasseur: Canadian director who has directed movies such as 'Fragment', 'The 9th Life of Louis Drax' and 'Riverdale'.
- Stephanie Levasseur: Nineteenth-century French musician and composer.
- Jacques Levasseur: French historian and professor of renaissance and modern history.
- Olivier Levasseur: French pirate known as “La Buse” or “The Buzzard” who operated around the Indian Ocean.
- André Levasseur: French Roman Catholic clergyman who was Bishop of Le Mans in the late nineteenth century.
- Philippe Levasseur: Former mayor of the town of Camaret-sur-Mer in the Finistère department of France.
- Jean-Pierre Levasseur: Canadian actor best known for his roles in the TV series 'Mon vrai beau-frère' and the movie 'Le Cormoran'.
- Louis-Joseph Levasseur: Nineteenth-century French art critic and curator.
- Augustine Valérius Levasseur: French soldier and politician who served as Governor of French Guyana in the 19th century.