Lewington

This is a locational surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the place in Suffolk called "Levington". The placename is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Leuetuna" and "Leuentona", the "u" being and early way of writing the letter "v" and influencing the later spelling of the surname as "Lewington". The placename means "Leofa's homestead", derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Leofa", meaning "dear beloved", with "tun", a settlement, homestead or village. The marriage of John Hill and Sarah Lewington was recorded in Canterbury in 1662, and Samuel Lewington and Jemima Paice were married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1765. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Laurent Lewington, christened, which was dated 17th January 1558, North Walsham, Norfolk, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. 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.