NameCensus.

UK surname

Garven

A variant of the surname Garvin, meaning "son of Garvine or Garbhan" of Gaelic origin.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Garven surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, down from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mauchline, Auchinleck and Gedling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garven is 244 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.5%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

1891

244 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garven had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Garven surname distribution map

The map shows where the Garven surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Garven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garven over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 188 #10,939
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 244 #12,983
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 185 #18,973
1999 modern 185 #19,127
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 194 #18,287
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 174 #19,921
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Garvens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Paisley Abbey, Kilmarnock and Irvine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mauchline, Auchinleck, Gedling, Paisley West and Newlands. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
4 Kilmarnock Ayr
5 Irvine Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mauchline East Ayrshire
2 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
3 Gedling 002 Gedling
4 Paisley West Renfrewshire
5 Newlands Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garven

These lists show first names that appear often with the Garven surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garven

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Garven, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Garven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Garven household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Garven is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garven is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garven falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garven is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Garven, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Garven

The surname GARVEN is of Scottish origin, emerging in the early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gārwine," which means "spear friend" or "companion in battle." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who was a skilled warrior or a trusted companion in arms.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GARVEN can be found in medieval Scottish records and charters. One notable example is Sir John Garven, a knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.

Over time, the name GARVEN spread across various regions of Scotland, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging. Some of the alternate spellings include Garvin, Gairden, and Gairn. Additionally, the name is closely related to the Scottish surname Garvie, which has a similar etymology.

In the 16th century, the GARVEN family established itself in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the county of Lanarkshire. During this period, the name was often associated with landowners and local gentry. One notable figure was William Garven, a prominent landowner in Lanarkshire in the late 16th century.

As the centuries passed, the GARVEN name spread beyond Scotland's borders. In the 17th and 18th centuries, several individuals bearing this surname migrated to Ireland and North America, seeking new opportunities and freedom from religious persecution.

One notable figure in the 18th century was John Garven, an Irish Presbyterian minister born in County Antrim in 1711. He played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in the American colonies and served as the first president of what is now known as the University of Delaware.

In the 19th century, the GARVEN name gained prominence in the literary world with the Scottish poet and essayist David Garven, who was born in Edinburgh in 1821. He was known for his insightful writings on Scottish culture and literature.

Another notable figure from this period was Alexander Garven, a Scottish-American industrialist born in Glasgow in 1840. He established a successful steel manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was instrumental in the development of the city's industrial sector.

While the GARVEN surname has its roots in Scottish history, it has since spread across the globe, with bearers of this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garven surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Ayrshire leads with 58 Garvens recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.48x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 58 42.48x
Renfrewshire 47 33.25x
Lanarkshire 20 3.39x
Lancashire 11 0.51x
Durham 10 1.84x
Middlesex 9 0.49x
Northumberland 9 3.32x
Dunbartonshire 8 16.32x
Midlothian 7 2.86x
Yorkshire 3 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.28x
Glamorgan 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.16x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmarnock in Ayrshire leads with 22 Garvens recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.38x.

Place Total Index
Kilmarnock 22 135.38x
Abbey 16 74.18x
Kilwinning 14 317.46x
Govan 10 6.85x
Paisley High Church 9 80.00x
Dumbarton 8 117.30x
Alnwick 7 149.89x
Cathcart 7 91.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 7.12x
Fenwick 7 972.22x
Clerkenwell London 6 13.93x
East Greenock 6 44.94x
Glasgow 6 5.73x
Darlington 5 23.87x
Renfrew 5 107.07x
Riccarton 5 242.72x
Wolsingham 5 101.01x
Lochwinnoch 4 189.57x
Broughton In Salford 3 15.16x
Holy Trinity 3 6.90x
Irvine 3 79.16x
Maryhill 3 25.97x
Stewarton 3 111.11x
Dalry 2 31.15x
Oldham 2 2.86x
Riccarton Hurlford 2 83.68x
Westgate 2 11.90x
Bollington In 1 27.93x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.71x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.91x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.08x
Fulham London 1 3.78x
Kensington London 1 0.99x
Liverpool 1 0.76x
Orell Ford 1 250.00x
Shettleston 1 18.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.72x
Warrington 1 3.90x
West Derby 1 1.58x
West Ham 1 1.26x
Westminster St Margaret 1 11.36x
Widnes 1 6.41x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garven surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
E. 2
Janet 2
Margaret 2
A. 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Dorah 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Kate 1
L. 1
Susan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Garven surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 6
John 4
Patrick 3
Robert 2
William 2
E. 1
George 1
I.H. 1
J. 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Garven households.

FAQ

Garven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Garven surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Garven a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Garven surname mean?

A variant of the surname Garvin, meaning "son of Garvine or Garbhan" of Gaelic origin.

What does the Garven map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garven bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.