From John

I was curious about how common my surname (Leavitt) is. So I put “surname” into Google and found MongaBay.com . I’m not sure of the origin of the name “Leavitt” but I was told in early life before computerized geneology that it may be derived from a French Canadian name like “Lafayette;” but maybe not. An English “John Leavitt” landed in Dorchester MA in 1634 (according to houseofnames.com). The name tends to show up most in New England in geneology records in Google. The name is also found among Mormons because a Leavitt from northern Vermont went west with Joseph Smith originally from Royalton VT in 1831. So at best I can say that “Leavitt” is an old New England name coming from the English or French during colonization in the first two centuries.  Three quarters of my grandparents are early New England (one Scottish) in origin and one quarter is English.

Becki’s maiden name is “Calkins” which is a British name from her father’s father. Becki is a quarter Danish and a quarter Norwegian, and the rest is English and Irish. There’s a Calkins Road and a Leavitt Road in Woodstock. 

Monga says that the surname “Leavitt” is ranked #2702 (12,223 individuals with Social Security numbers) in the USA from US Census records, and “Calkins” is ranked #3711 (8,673 individuals). The two names are individuals that are 95% and 96% “white, non-hispanic” respectively.

Below is a list of the 20 most common surnames in the USA.