Surname MacIver - Meaning and Origin
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MacIver: What does the surname MacIver mean?
The last name MacIver is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "MacIomhair," meaning "son of Iomhar." Iomhar is a Gaelic form of the old Norse personal name "Ivarr," which combines the elements "yr," meaning bow or arch, and "arr," meaning warrior; thus it could be interpreted as "bow warrior" or "archer."
Many families with this surname come from the Hebrides, an area well-known for its Viking connections, thus reinforcing the Nordic origins of the name. The spelling of the name can vary, with McAver, McIvor, McIver, and MacGiver amongst its iterations. Despite these variations, the name essentially refers to the descendants of Iomhar, who are traditionally seen as brave warriors. The families bearing this name have a long history and are associated with various regions in Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIver: Where does the name MacIver come from?
The surname MacIver is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Old Norse personal name Ivarr, which means "bow warrior". In Gaelic, it is spelled as "MacÌomhair", meaning "son of Ìomhar". This surname is associated with the clans MacIver/Campbell and Clan Maciver which were based in the Highlands and Argyll regions of Scotland.
The MacIver title is common to the MacIver Campbells of Argyle, who were originally a separate clan, but later allied with and became absorbed into the Campbell clan. The name MacIver means "son of Iver", with Iver being a chief who lived during the 13th century.
Today, the surname MacIver is common in regions that were historically influenced by Scottish immigration. Areas such as Scotland itself, other parts of the United Kingdom, North America (particularly in areas like Nova Scotia in Canada and in the United States), and Australia contain the highest concentrations of people with the MacIver surname.
Variations of the surname MacIver
The surname MacIver is of Scottish origin and it has various variants and spellings due to regional differences, pronunciation, and Anglicization. Some of these variants include McIver, MacIvor, McIvor, MacGiver, McGiver, MacIvar, McIvar, MacEure, MacUre, MacUrchy, and McUrchy.
This name, in its original Gaelic form, can be written as Mac Íomhair, meaning "son of Íomhar". The name Íomhar is a Gaelic form of the Norse name Ivarr, which can be Anglicized as Ivar or Ivor. So, Ivor, Iver, or Iverson could also be considered variants or related surnames.
In some cases, the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix (which means "son of") may also be dropped, leading to variations such as Iver or Ivers.
The surnames originated from Clan MacIver, a Scottish clan based in the regions of Argyll and the High Isles, who are said to be of Norse-Gael stock.
Please note that many surnames experience changes and adaptations over centuries and across regions, so this is not an exhaustive list of all potential variations of the MacIver surname.
Famous people with the name MacIver
- Colin MacIver: A Scottish singer-songwriter native to Glasgow.
- Conor MacIver: A professional basketball player from Northern Ireland.
- Kevin MacIver: A Scottish actor and writer, best known for his role in films like The Witch of Drumbeg and Waking Ned Devine.
- Eleanor MacIver: A British fashion designer who was featured in Vogue magazine in the 1990s.
- Angus MacIver: A Grammy-winning musician, composer, and producer who has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac.
- Doug MacIver: A Canadian actor who has appeared on television series such as The Adventures of Shirley Holmes and Robson Arms.
- Tricia MacIver: An American blogger and author of Clean Eating for Busy Families and An Essential Guide to Meal Planning.
- Angus Robert MacIver: A Scottish sculptor, best known for his public monuments and exteriors of various buildings.
- Jimmy MacIver: An American football player who played college football at Syracuse University and was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Eadie MacIver: An actor and musician who has appeared on television series such as Criminal Minds and Suits.