Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Livingston

      Origin

      Scottish

      Meaning

      From Leving's Town

      Variations

      Lexington, Kingston, Langston
      The name Livingston, derived from the Scottish language, can be traced back to its literal meaning of From Leving's Town. It emerged as a name during medieval times when individuals were often identified by their place of residence or occupation. Livingston originated from an Old English personal name Leofing or Leofung, combined with the word tun, meaning settlement or town.

      In the annals of history, the name Livingston becomes prominent with the 14th-century figure Sir John de Livingston, who served as a knight under the Scottish King David II. Over the centuries, the Livingston name further gained status and influence, with notable individuals and heraldic families bearing the name. Most famously, Robert Livingston, born in 1654, emigrated from Scotland to early America, where his descendants played significant roles in the forming of the United States. From this lineage emerged prominent politicians, diplomats, and philanthropists, including Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, who administered the oath of office at President Thomas Jefferson's inauguration in 1801.

      In modern-day usage, the name Livingston remains prevalent both as a name and a first name. It lingers as a prominent Scottish family name, while also being embraced by individuals of various ethnicities worldwide. Additionally, Livingston is often used as a geographical reference, with towns and cities named after the original Leving's Town in Scotland. Moreover, the name carries a sense of historical lineage, symbolizing resilience, progress, and contributions to society across generations.

      Based on our records...

      Smith

      Smith

      This is the most common surname associated with Livingston.
      Mary

      Mary

      This is the most common name of those married to a Livingston.
      Livingston

      Livingston

      This is the most common name for a child of a Livingston.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1860 is when there were the most people born with the first name Livingston.

      Explore the origins of another name.