Surname McEver - Meaning and Origin

McEver: What does the surname McEver mean?

The last name McEver is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Iomhair", which translates to "son of Iomhar". Iomhar is a personal name, equivalent to Ivor, meaning "bow warrior" or "archer" in English. Hence the surname often implies a relation to warriors or those skilled in archery. This is a patronymic surname, meaning it is based on the name of a male ancestor. As with many Irish surnames, numerous variations of spellings can be found including McIver, MacIver, McIvor, MacIvor, and others. It should be noted that the meanings of many surnames are subject to interpretation and may have evolved or changed over time. The suggested meanings and origins provided here are commonly found in genealogical sources.

McEver: Where does the name McEver come from?

The surname McEver is of Irish origin, specifically stemming from the Gaelic name Mac Iomhair. This translates to "son of Iomhar," with Iomhar being an ancient personal name. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" is typically Gaelic and means 'son of', indicating a patriarchal lineage in ancient Gaelic culture. Primarily, this surname was first found in County Galway, located on the west coast of Ireland. The McEver clan belonged to the larger group of families known as the Ui Maine (Hy Many) who were a powerful tribal grouping whose territories at its peak, in the early 11th century, spanned the majority of what is now County Galway and County Roscommon.

In terms of contemporary prevalence, the McEver surname is still typically found in Ireland, although the diaspora has spread globally. It is also fairly common in the United States due to historical immigration from Ireland during the famine years and beyond. While the exact concentration in different parts of the US may vary, it's generally Distributed across the country, with slightly heavier concentrations in some southern states. Overall, it is not a highly common surname in contemporary times.

Variations of the surname McEver

The surname McEver is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Iomhair, which means "son of Iomhar." Some known variants and spellings of McEver include McIver, McIvor, MacIver, MacIvor, McEvers, McIvers, McGiver, and MacGiver.

As surnames were often translated phonetically or by the interpretation of a clerk, minister, or scribe, rather than accurately, it was common for a single person's name to be recorded under several different spellings. This is particularly the case with Gaelic names. For instance, some individuals named McIver may have also been recorded under the name McEver on official documents.

Irish surnames were often preceded by "Mac" or "O'," which meant "son of" and "descendant of," respectively. In the McEver name, it likely referred to a son or descendant of a man named Iomhar.

Rare alternative spellings that have sprung up over the centuries due to regional dialects and Anglicization of Gaelic words include MacEver, M'Iver, M'Ivor, MicIver, and Mickiver. However, these variants are significantly less common than the primary forms mentioned above.

Famous people with the name McEver

• Ciara McEver: Professional photographer and artist based in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Carrie McEver: Singer and songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Rebecca McEver: Actress best known for her roles in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.
• Robert McEver: Actor who appeared in the films Inception and The Amazing Spider-Man.
• Jenny McEver: Professional podcast host and audio engineer.
• Lisa McEver: Country music singer.
• Gaelan McEver: Professional BMX biker and skateboarder.
• James McEver: Award-winning country musician from Austin, Texas.
• William McEver: Actor who had roles in the films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Wolf of Wall Street.
• Toni McEver: Award-winning country musician from Nashville, Tennessee.

Other surnames

McEven