Levee
- Levee
There are two authorised explanations for the origin of this old
French surname. The first is a nickname but at first glance would appear to be habitational for one who lived
"Levee de Terre". This literally translated as
"on rising ground", however the
"rising" was intended to imply that the name holder had risen above the common herd - and was now in or thought to be in - the aristocracy! The second and more probable explanation is that
"Levee" is a metonymic for a tax collector, one who specifically organised a
"Levee militaire", a tax imposed, usually by the King of France to enable him to wage war. It can be reasonably assumed that this task did not always endear the original Messieurs Levee to their fellow citizens! The name spelling are Leve, Levee and Lalevee, whilst early church recordings include Marie Catharine Levee who married Michel Oliver at St. Germain en Laye on
September 12th 1758 and Pierre Levee who married Anne Gerard at Brin Sur Seille, on
May 24th 1795. The name is prominent in the Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, although the more usual form is Lalevee. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Claude Levefe, which was dated
March 15th 1689, christened at Ville au Val, during the reign of King Louis X1V of France,
1643 -
1715. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to
"develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Surnames reference.
2013.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
levee — levée … Dictionary of ichthyology
levée — [ l(ə)ve ] n. f. • v. 1200 « digue »; de 1. lever I ♦ Remblai (de terre, de pierres, de maçonnerie). ⇒ chaussée, digue. « À travers les étangs partait une levée de terre » (Bosco). Géol. Levée alluviale : alluvions formant un bourrelet le long du … Encyclopédie Universelle
levée — Levée. s. f. v. Action de lever, de recuëillir certaines choses. Ce qui se leve, ce qui se recuëille. Il se dit des fruits d une terre & alors il signifie, Cueillette, recolte. La levée des fruits luy appartient. Il se dit aussi des droits, des… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Levee — Lev ee (l[e^]v [ e]; often l[e^]v*[=e] in U. S.), n. [F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. See {Lever}, n.] 1. The act of rising. The sun s levee. Gray. [1913 Webster] 2. A morning assembly or reception of visitors, in distinction from … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
levee — ☆ levee1 [lev′ē ] n. [Fr levée, fem. pp. of OFr lever, to raise: see LEVER] 1. an embankment built alongside a river to prevent high water from flooding bordering land 2. a landing place, as a pier, on the bank of a river 3. a low ridge of earth… … English World dictionary
Levee — Lev ee, v. t. To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. [U. S.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Levee — Lev ee, v. t. To attend the levee or levees of. [1913 Webster] He levees all the great. Young. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Levee — (frz. levée, spr. weh), Erhebung, Aufstand; Aushebung, Werbung; L. en masse (spr. ang mass ), kriegerisches Aufgebot der gesamten männlichen Bevölkerung … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon
levee — Ⅰ. levee [1] ► NOUN ▪ a formal reception of visitors or guests. ORIGIN French, from lever to rise (such receptions were formerly held by a monarch after rising from bed). Ⅱ. levee [2] ► NOUN 1) an embankment built … English terms dictionary
Levee — Lev ee, n. [F. lev[ e]e, fr. lever to raise. See {Lever}, and cf. {Levy}.] An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [U. S.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Levée — (franz., spr. löwē ), Aufhebung; Aushebung (von Soldaten etc.); l.en masse, allgemeines Aufgebot (s. d.), Landsturm. L. auch soviel wie Einsammlung (von Feldfrüchten etc.); im Kartenspiel, besonders im Whistspiel, soviel wie Stich … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
