levin folk etymology?

[Andrew Lancaster5]

On the continuing question of what early links there might have between between the supposedly Saxon Livingstones and the Gaelic Macleas, could it have simply been a bit of folk etymology? It strikes me that the very early versions of both names most have sounded as if they had the same root (something like Levin) although the root in each case comes from an entirely different language. Regards Andrew

[Bachuil]

Rob Livingstone in California has been doing a massive amount of work in this area.  It is fascinating and frustrating as there are many exiting possibilities that turn into blind allies. There is just too little raw material to make to allow one to come to robust conclusions.