Surname McKeever - Meaning and Origin
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I. McKeever
read moreMcKeever: What does the surname McKeever mean?
The last name McKeever is of Irish and Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Íomhair, meaning "son of Íomhar". Íomhar is a personal name equivalent to the Old Norse "Ivar", which means "bow warrior". Therefore, the surname McKeever can be interpreted as "son of the bow warrior". This could possibly suggest that the early bearers of this name may have been descendants of a warrior adept in archery. As with many surnames, over time and migration, McKeever has seen variations in its spelling which include MacKeever, McIver and MacIvor among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeever: Where does the name McKeever come from?
The surname McKeever is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Íomhair, meaning "son of Íomhar." Íomhar is a personal name roughly translating to "foot soldier," so the surname can be understood as "son of the foot soldier."
Due to widespread Irish diaspora, the surname McKeever is now common in many parts of the English-speaking world. Particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Though its exact distribution varies, it's notably prevalent in Northern Ireland, attributable to its originating from that region specifically. In terms of the USA, regions with significant Irish-American populations like the Northeast and Midwest states, may have a higher proportion of individuals bearing this surname. However, due to the global nature of modern society, individuals with the last name McKeever can potentially be found anywhere in the world.
Despite being widely disseminated, McKeever is still considered a relatively rare surname, so while it can be found globally, the actual incidence in any given place may still be quite low.
Variations of the surname McKeever
The surname McKeever is of Irish origin. Different variants, similar spellings, and adaptations over time have led to a range of surnames that can be connected back to this surname. Some of these include: McKever, MacKeever, McIver, MacIver, McIvor, MacIvor, McEaver, MecKeever, and McKiver.
The prefixes "Mac" and "Mc" both mean 'son of,' hence, the original bearer of this name might have been a son of Iver. Variants like MacKeever and McKeever are quite common since they bear the direct translation from Irish - "son of Iver."
The surnames McIver, MacIver, and their variations originate from the name Mac Íomhair, pronounced "MacKever." This name derives from the Old Norse personal name Ívarr, meaning “Bow warrior.”
The only variant that doesn't consist of a prefix is Iver, a name of Scandinavian origin meaning "archer" which correlates to the original meaning of Ívarr. However, it should be noted that all these surnames have evolved over centuries across many different geographic locations and dialects, thus their connection to McKeever may not always be straightforward.
Famous people with the name McKeever
- Terence McKeever: American child actor best known his role as Andy Barclay in the Child’s Play franchise.
- Chip McKeever: professional football player who played in the Canadian Football League.
- Dónall Mac Cnaimín: renowned Irish folk singer and musician.
- John P. McKeever, Jr.: award-winning US Navy Rear Admiral and former Superintendent of the US Naval War College.
- John McKeever: British regimental officer who served with the Auxiliary Division of the RIC during World War I.
- Finola McKeever: Irish actress best known for roles in I Could Read the Sky, Angel, and White Supremacy.
- Stephen McKeever: former lieutenant governor of Oklahoma.
- Paul McKeever: Canadian lawyer and former leader of the Freedom Party of Ontario.
- Roisin McKeever: Northern Irish singer who had a number of chart topping songs in the UK.
- Michael McKeever: American playwright, screenwriter and director.