Levitt

Levitt is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, typically derived from Levi or Levit, indicating descent from the biblical Levi. The name has several variant spellings, including Leavitt, Levit, and Levite, and it spread through English-speaking countries as families migrated and assimilated.

In the United States, the Levitt name is closely associated with postwar suburban development. The Levitt family, most notably William J. Levitt (1907–1994), was a real estate developer and founder of Levitt & Sons. The firm became famous for applying mass-production techniques to housing, helping to accelerate home construction and reduce costs in the wake of World War II.

Levittown, built largely by Levitt & Sons starting in 1947 on Long Island, New York, is the best-known embodiment of this approach. The project used standardized designs, pre-fabricated components, and assembly-line construction to deliver affordable homes to veterans and their families. Levittown influenced suburban development across the United States and remains a reference point in discussions of housing policy, zoning, and the social dynamics of mid-20th-century American suburbia.

Beyond Levittown, the Levitt surname appears in various fields, including business and academia, but the name is most commonly linked to the mid-20th-century suburban expansion associated with Levitt & Sons. The name continues to be encountered in historical and biographical contexts related to American housing history.