Surname MacVikers - Meaning and Origin
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MacVikers: What does the surname MacVikers mean?
The last name MacVikers is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic words 'Mac an Bhiocaire' which translates to 'son of the vicar'. It was commonly adopted by those who were descendants or related to a vicar or priest in the Middle Ages. In Scottish history, during the reign of David I, the church started playing a major role in the functioning of the state, thus the offices of the church, including the vicar, held significant power and respect. Adoption of such names was sometimes reflective of the family's relation or affiliation to the church, or simply a mark of respect for the position. Over time, various spelling variations of the surname have appeared including MacVicar, McVicar, MacVicker, MacViker, MacViccar, MacVichar, and MacVicqer among others. Hence, if someone bears the last name MacVikers today, they probably have Scottish ancestry. However, like any surname, its presence does not definitively establish lineage or heritage since names can change or be adopted for numerous reasons.
Order DNA origin analysisMacVikers: Where does the name MacVikers come from?
The last name MacVikers is primarily found in Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Sweden. Also, due to the long history of emigration from these countries, the name is relatively common in other countries with Scandinavian immigrant populations, such as Canada and the United States.
In Norway, the name is associated with the traditional family of MacVikers in the Bagererbur county of Fylke. This family, which can be traced back to the 17th century, was a semi- noble one, with ancestral roots in Scotland. In addition, they are known to be an armigerous family, which essentially means they had a coat of arms.
In Sweden, the name is also traced to the old MacVikers family. However, their lineage is not connected to the MacVikers of Norway, and the locations in which the two families lived are quite far apart—the Swedish family's homeland being in and around Östergötland county.
In Canada, the MacViker name is found in Nova Scotia, more particularly in Halifax and Sydney. This is due to a wave of Swedish immigrants from the 1800s, and some believe that this is where the Swedish MacViker family is located.
In the United States, the name can be found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Like their Canadian counterparts, these families can be traced back to the same wave of immigration from the 1800s.
Overall, the surname MacViker is common throughout Scandinavia—especially Norway and Sweden—and in countries with large Scandinavian immigrant populations, such as Canada and the United States.
Variations of the surname MacVikers
MacVikers is a variation of the surname MacVicar. This spelling is often seen in North America, especially in areas with strong Scottish lineage.
MacVicar is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac a’ Mhic Iomhair, usually translated to "son of the son of the Vicar". It is also spelled as MacVicker, MacVickar, MacVickers and MacVigar.
The name is found in Scotland, but also in parts of Ireland, most notably County Donegal. It is very similar to the surname MacMurray, which is an Anglicized version of the GaelicMacGaibhre. The MacMurray spelling is more common in parts of Ireland.
Despite the variations in spelling, all these surnames are generally accepted as being of the same origin. They originated as patronymic surnames, meaning that the surname was derived from someone’s father’s name. In the case of the MacVicar surname, they were descendants of Vicar, a personal name.
Famous people with the name MacVikers
- Liam MacVikers: Scottish actor best known for his roles as Harry Potter in the popular movie series
- Jennie MacVikers: Canadian singer-songwriter and actress
- Iain MacVikers: Scottish writer and poet
- Murray MacVikers: former Prime Minister of Australia
- Robert MacVikers: American actor and producer
- Donald MacVikers: American football player
- Angus MacVikers: British politician and member of Parliament
- Billy MacVikers: Australian actress and dancer
- Mitch MacVikers: Australian cricket player
- Jack MacVikers: American comedian and actor