McIver
A Scottish Gaelic surname meaning “son of Ivor,” with Ivor ultimately tied to the Old Norse name Ívarr.
The #6,258 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 56,578 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McIver is a Scottish patronymic surname built on Gaelic Mac, meaning “son of,” plus the personal name Ivor. Ivor is generally understood as a Gaelic form of the Old Norse name Ívarr, so the name ultimately means “son of Ivor” or “son of Ívar.” The many spellings reflect Gaelic and Scots variation in how the name was written over time.
History
The surname is long associated with the western Highlands and Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland. Historical spelling is very variable, with forms such as Maciver, Mackiver, M'Ivor, and M'Ever appearing in older records and surname lists. In modern usage, McIver is a standard anglicized spelling, though MacIver and MacIvor also remain common.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname lists record McIver in many different spellings, which is a good reminder that standardized spelling is a relatively recent development.
From the historical record
“M'lVOR. Maciver. Mackiver. M'Ever.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland