22 May 2010

Surname Saturday: Livengood

The surname LIVENGOOD is the Americanized version of Leibendgut. Leibengut is Swiss-German in origin. It has been written as Livengood and Levengood in America. Records show the family name back to 1550, in Aarwangen, Canton of Berne, Switzerland. The name, Livengood, can be found in Switzerland today. The surname is believed to come from the saying ""Mein Leib und mein Gut" to mean My life and my good"


Immigrant Peter Livengood arrived in the United States in 1750, sailing aboard the ship Phoenix. He settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He married Barbara Nafziger in 1760 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Other Livengood's in my family tree are Christian(1761-1837), John Christian(1801-1859) and Anna Nancy(1832-1883).

34 comments:

  1. Wow, what a surname, I am sure they got comments where ever they went. A real conversation starter. You can't help but wonder, if they had their own private jokes on their own name. Like at the end of the day and they look out at the scenery and some one of them says ahhh this is the living. And someone else says good living.

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    1. As a modern day Livengood, yes, I do get a LOT of comments on my last name!

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    2. sally livengood zuberJune 29, 2015 11:18 PM

      Love our 'Livengood' name; it's given me great pleasure and fun over the years!

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    3. I have the surname Livengood And the play on my name has been a joke forever I remember one kid all during my school years call me deadenbad

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    4. Im charles winifred Roy livengood son of charles Roy from indiana

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  2. I think it is kind of a cool surname! I like the American spelling better.

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    1. My last name is spelled livingood..IM assuming it's of the same origins?

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  3. My weeks upon weeks of following my family tree has led me to Marie/Mary Livengood daughter of Peter Leibundgutt and Barbara Nafziger. My ancestors were all from the Pennsylvania area. These ancestors are all part of my Flickinger side of the family. Thanks for your nicely created blog!! Patti

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  4. Patti, we are cousins, sort of, my ancestor is Mary's brother, Christian. I don't have a lot on Mary, but feel free to email me at brae957 at gmail.com, if you would like what I have. Thanks for commenting.

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  5. Hello, Cousin! Which Livengood do you descend from? Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Garry Livengood

    I have always said that I'm A Live-N-Good

    There is a livengood web page on facebook now, if you want to check it out.

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  7. John, thanks for sharing, I will check out the facebook page..

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  8. There are no new Livengood last-name jokes, I am afraid.

    My understanding is that Hartmann and Elisabetha Leibundgut arrived in North Carolina at about this time. I thought Peter was their son. I have pictures of Hartmann and Elisabetha's tomb stones in NC. A lot of Livengoods, I am told, moved north from NC into Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. There are still a lot of Livengoods in western NC and TN.

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  9. I would imagine the origins would be the same. Feel free to contact me with any questions. I would be happy to answer them.

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  10. I am searching for a Rosalie Livengood, born about 1950. She married Warren Abbott in 1966 in, I think, WI. Any info about her ancestors would be wonderful!!!!

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  11. I am sorry I don't have any information about your Rosalie Livengood. I haven't researched any Livengood's at that time. Most of my research has been in the 1700 and 1800's.

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  12. As a Livengood in Las Vegas, cheers to you all! Interested in this Facebook page but can't seem to find it. Anyone have the URL?

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    1. sally livengood zuberJune 29, 2015 11:20 PM

      I am a descendent of Hardtmann Livengood.which is a .FB group

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    2. I am from ira dolph livengood

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  13. Which facebook page are you referring to?

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  14. Thank you Sally for the information. The Hardtmann Livengood page may be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/121284654562118/?fref=nf

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  15. From what I have been told, I was the last descendant of the Livengood line in Texas. Of course now I am married and have a different last name, but I am always curious to find lost relatives, and any information about our ancestry. And yes, as a kid I was especially tortured. I am Amanda Livengood. Spread it out...lol. Or I was always asked, "Hey! Are you Liven good?" I would love more information, feel free to email me sometime at: amanda.livengood@gmail.com

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    1. Sorry, Livengoods in Gruver TX. Young ones too.

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  16. Amanda, life sometimes gets in the way with my management of my blog, but I thank you for reading and taking the time to comment on this post. I will send an email soon. I have been helping to care for my aging parents and your comment slipped from my mind. I am sorry to be replying so late. Happy New Year.

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  17. My name is Mardy McKenna Adams and my mother was Ruth Livengood McKenna of the descendants of Alexander Selkirk Livengood. Family was from Salisbury Pa and my mother relatives settled in Scottsdale Pa. Christian Livengood is buried in Salisbury Pa. I have a picture of his tombstone. If you are on Ancestry the Livengood family tree is on there. I have not updated it recently but my cousins and I did extensive research on the Livengood family. If you have any questions contact me. E-mail is mrwdaj46@aol.com. Look forward to talking with you. Mardy

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  18. I'm a Livingood too! Quite a few of us here in PA.

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  19. I have gotten so many comments on my last name and at first I got annoyed. Then my dad told me to say "hell yeah I'm living good!" And now I find it funny.

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  20. The Livengood family has a lot of descendents now. It is a huge family to research. I enjoy all the name plays on it. Thank you to everyone who shared their information here.

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    1. Hi my mom is a livengood her dad was Ira Dolph livengood and beyond that I don't know my family tree

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  21. I imagine a lot of Livengood's have been teased for the name.

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  22. Im son of Charles Roy livengood im Charles Roy winfred livengood and my son is a jr!! Hello family... I guess our family is from Indiana dont know much of anything about anything but the name lives on

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  23. Hello, nice to meet you. There are a lot of Livengoods in the United States.

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  24. Does anyone know what towns in West NC / East TN many Livengoods can be found? Or what towns in Pennsylvania?

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