Surname MacIvir - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacIvir: What does the surname MacIvir mean?
The surname MacIvir is of Scottish origin and is a variant of MacIver, which itself is an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacÌomhair. The Gaelic term means "son of Ìomhar." The name Ìomhar is equivalent to the Old Norse name Ívarr, which is composed of the elements "y", possibly meaning "yew", "bow" (a weapon made of yew) and "arr", meaning "warrior". Thus, the overall possible interpretation of MacIvir could be "son of the bow warrior" or "son of the yew warrior". It's important to acknowledge that the precise meaning can vary based on differing interpretations of these ancient languages. The MacIver/MacIvir family was historically a part of Scotland's extensive clan system, particularly associated with the Hebrides, an area extensively settled by the Vikings, which explains the Norse origin of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIvir: Where does the name MacIvir come from?
The surname MacIvir is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name MacIomhair, meaning "son of Iomhar." Iomhar is a Gaelic form of the Old Norse personal name Ivarr, composed of the elements 'yrr', meaning ‘bowman’ and 'arr', meaning ‘warrior’. It was a name particularly prevalent in the Hebrides Islands and the west coast of Scotland, areas significantly influenced by the Viking invasions.
Today, the MacIvor (also spelled MacIver, McIver, or McIvor) surname is most frequently found in Scotland, particularly in places such as Ross and Cromarty. It's also prevalent in other countries due to the historical migration of Scottish clans, most notably in Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. Due to family dispersion or Anglicization of the name, there are numerous spelling variations. It's worthy to note that the density of the surname is still relatively sparse worldwide. Therefore, it might not be “common” as such, in any one particular location.
Variations of the surname MacIvir
The surname MacIvir is of Scottish origin, especially associated with the Hebrides. It appears to derive from the Gaelic "Mac Iomhair", meaning "son of Ivor". This specific spelling, MacIvir, is quite rare, though there are several variations, due to various phonetic translations over time and differences between regions in Scotland.
Common variants include MacIver, McIver, MacIvor, McIvor, McIvorson, MacIver. Sometimes, the 'Mc' which is a variation of 'Mac' and denotes "son of", can also be abbreviated to simply 'M' such as M'Iver.
These surnames have also sometimes been anglicized or hybridized due to relocation or intermarriage, resulting in further variations such as Ivers, Ivory, Iver, and Iverson. In Ireland, the surname MacÍomhair was often anglicized to Ivors, or McIvers.
Generally, surnames with 'Mac' or 'Mc' were initially patronymic in Gaelic culture, which signifies a direct lineage to an ancestral patriarch, in this case, 'Ivor'. Additionally, the numerous variants and spellings of this surname underscore the rich oral tradition of Gaelic cultures, where the pronunciation and therefore the spelling varied across different regions.
Famous people with the name MacIvir
- Kyle MacIver: Writer, director, actor, comedian and artist from Montreal, Canada.
- Kelsey MacIver: Actor, dancer, model and social media influencer.
- David MacIver: British Entrepreneur, innovator and investor.
- Tim MacIver: American Film Director and Editor.
- Ally McIver: Canadian Actor and Musical Theatre performer.
- Peter MacIver: British Visual Artist and Graphic Designer.
- Robert MacIver: Scottish Philosopher and Social Scientist.
- Gordon MacIver: Scottish journalist and author.
- Michelle MacIver: Canadian Actor and Voice Actor.
- Chris MacIver: Canadian Sound Designer and Musician.