The Lafstein/Lefstein/Leafstone/Livingston family originated in Lithuania., most likely in the town of Pinsk. The oldest known member of the family was a man born in Lithuania in 1840 (name unknown). However, there appears to have been some movement back & forth, over the years, between that location and Dwinsk, Lativa.* Regardless, it is from Lithuania, to my knowledge, that they began leaving for the United States early in the 20th Century, fleeing poverty and persecution. Bravely, they left behind everything they knew to seek religious freedom and opportunity in a land thar was strange to them.  We can be very proud.

As for the family name, the original one was very likely pronounced "Loffshtayn" or "Layfshtayn" (more on this later in  the tree) - but spawned 4 variations in America - Lafstein, Lefstein, Leafstone & Livingston.  However, only the last 3 names survived. 

All descendants of this family in the United States can trace their ancestry back to Benjamin Lafstein & his wife, Rose, as the chart will reveal, and also to his father, the ancestor who was born in 1840. The Tree also includes information and anecdotes about individual members. However, for reasons of privacy, not all information on living people is shown. Please understand that, as in many family trees, in-law ancestry is not traced. Additional facts and stories about in-laws are often given, though again, some info is hidden for the privacy of living people. Also, as in most trees, maiden names are used here for women, regardless. As for nicknames, the chart denotes some of them, but only when they are unusual, the person was known by it, and/or there are a number of possible nicknames. Namesakes - children named in honor of a family member - are sometimes pointed out, if known, if there are several of them &/or they are rather obvious, but only if both are on the tree.. Education levels for deceased relatives, if known, are cited only if I found them interesting, unusual, or pertinent to getting a fuller picture of the specific person.

Obviously, several gaps still exist in this chart. Hopefully, other family members will help fill them in. In fact, if you have any missing information, updates, or corrections please feel free to contact me, as I will be adding, editing & updating over time. Also, please feel free to add your comments to the Guest Book.

Before I close this Intro, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who made this  project possible. I am especially grateful to my late uncle, Robert Glasser, who put together our original (paper) family tree, entitled, "The Children of Benjamin," in 1966. This online tree derives largely from the paper version. I am also thankful to my cousins Victor & Edward Stern for updating the paper version in 2018, and for the research done by Benjamin Stern, which traced our ancestry back to 1840 and helped me to flesh out other parts of this chart. Also, I appreciate the Census information retrieved by my daughter, Hilary Vidair, and other facts she apprised me of. I am thankful, too, for the frequent use of my daughter, Sarina Vidair's computer and my granddaughter, Angelina Vidair's laptop while working on this project. Moreover, I appreciate the additions made by my grandchildren, Angelina & Richie, as well as Angelina's help with editing. A posthumous shout-out goes to my parents, Herman & Elaine (Jacoby/Jordan) Livingston who passed down many facts and anecdotes orally over the years - and to my paternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Shulman) Livingston who shared a few stories with me, as well. I am also happy to have in my possession my mother's handwritten memoirs. Without these contributions, there are some facts and colorful narratives that might have been lost. I am grateful, as well, to Tribal Pages for providing a place where trees like this can be created.

* Since both Lithuania & Lativia were under Russian rule at that time, the towns often will be referred to here, respectively, as Pinsk, Lithuania, Russia & Dwinsk, Latvia, Russia. Dwinsk turns up in some records as "Dvinsk" or "Davinsk." The two towns are now Pinsk, Belarus and Daugapolis, Belarus, respectively.