Group Administrator:
Judy Simon - Email:
heyjude0701@yahoo.com
Project Surnames
Lassner, Lefcourt, Lefcowitch, Lefkowitz, Leon, Levak, Levcowicz, Levik, Levin, Levko, Levkoff, Levkov, Levkovich, Levkovitz, Lewak, Lewik, Lewin, Lewis, Lewko, Lewkow, Lewkowicz, Lewkowski, Loewe, Louik, Lowe, Lyons
Project Background
Lefkowitz was a common name among Eastern European Jews. According to Alexander Beider's Dictionary of Surnames from the Russian Empire, it derives from Lev (Leib, Lew, Liv) which was a kinnui, a secular symbol meaning lion that was associated with Judah. The hypocorism, or diminutive form, is Levko (Lewko) or Levik (Lewik). Lefkowitz (Lewkowicz, Levkovitz, Levkovich) is the son of Levko. Lewis, Louis, Lewik, Louik, Lyons and Leon are other forms of the name in common usage today.
A similar name with a different derivation is Levak or Lewak. According to Beider, this name means left-handed person.
There was no concept of unique spelling of Jewish names in Eastern Europe, so there may be instances of confusion as to which source one's name derived from. Because of the similarity between names derived from these two different sources, as in Lewik-Lewak or Levkov-Levakov, names that may have derived from either source are included in the project.
If your surname is Lefkowitz or any of its variants, or Lewak/Levak or variants, you are welcome to join the surname project.
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The following are good DNA 101 websites:
http://blairdna.com/dna101.html
http://www.kerchner.com/anonftp/pub/introg&g.htm
A helpful overview of the origins of the various haplogroups found in Jewish populations, including the Cohen Modal Haplotype can be found at:
http://www.jogg.info/11/coffman.htm
An interview with Jon Entine, author of Abraham's Children: Race, Identity and the DNA of the Chosen People:
http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1321
A non-technical overview "Genetics and Jewish Identity" by Diana Muir Appelbaum and Paul S. Appelbaum MD was published in the Jerusalem Post, Feb 11, 2008:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1202742130771&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
For an overview of the human migration out of Africa and an interactive map and timeline where you can trace your Haplogroup, check out the National Geographic Genographic Project website:
https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/
A Glossary:
http://www.isogg.org/course/glossary.htm
Wikipedia is also a reliable source for information pertaining to genetic genealogy