Lewington Family History

Probably a variant of Levington, although the latter is an E Anglian surname. So the name in Berks and neighboring counties must either reflect migration or have a different origin; see (2). Lewington and Levington are perhaps variant pronunciations of the Wilts surname Lavington. The vowel change is not recorded in the place-name but there is some evidence for occasional raising of late Middle English [a] to early Modern English [e].

The development of intervocalic [v] to [w] is not uncommon in Middle English dialects and original -ton is often replaced in surnames with -don and -den. Compare therefore Johannes and Michaelis Lavynton' 1381 in Poll Tax (Reading, Berks) with Mathew Lewington 1641 in IGI (Reading, Berks).

Also, compare Johanne Lavynton' 1381 in Poll Tax (Hidden, Berks) with Josias Lewendon 1611 in IGI (Hungerford, Berks); Hidden is in Hungerford parish. Compare also Mary Lewington 1640 and John Laventon 1705 in IGI (Cheriton, Hants).

However, these may be different surnames.