NameCensus.

UK surname

Givans

A variant spelling of the surname Givens, potentially referring to a generous or generous-natured person.

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Givans surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, West Dorset and Redditch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Givans is 112 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 218.2%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2009

112 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Givans had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Givans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Givans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Givans 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 35 #31,540
1901 historical 25 #31,259
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 76 #29,997
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 87 #29,377
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 85 #29,867
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Givans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, West Dorset and Redditch. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 071 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 049 Birmingham
3 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
4 Redditch 004 Redditch
5 Birmingham 031 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Givans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Givans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Givans, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Givans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Givans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Givans is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Givans is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Givans falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Givans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Givans

The surname Givans is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gìbhinn" or "Gìbhìneach," which means "little hill" or "little hill-dweller." The name is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century in the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Givans can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the late 13th century. In these rolls, the name appears as "Gybbynsone," indicating its evolution from the original Gaelic form.

The Givans surname is closely associated with the Scottish clan system, particularly with the Clan MacNab. Historical records suggest that the Givans family was a sept (a branch or division) of the larger MacNab clan, which had its stronghold in the Perthshire region of central Scotland.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Givans name was John Givans, who was born in Inveraray, Argyll, around 1520. He was a renowned scholar and philosopher, known for his works on metaphysics and ethics.

Another prominent individual with the Givans surname was William Givans, born in Edinburgh in 1638. He was a prominent merchant and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the city's infrastructure and charitable institutions.

In the 18th century, the Givans family began to spread beyond Scotland, with some members emigrating to Ireland and North America. One such individual was Robert Givans, born in Glasgow in 1745, who settled in Virginia in the late 1700s and became a successful plantation owner.

The 19th century saw the rise of another notable Givans, James Givans, born in Inverness in 1812. He was a renowned architect and played a significant role in the design and construction of several iconic buildings in Glasgow, including the City Chambers and the University of Glasgow's main building.

Throughout history, the Givans surname has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Givans Hill in Argyll and Givans Brae in Perthshire. These place names reflect the surname's connection to the Scottish landscape and the clan system.

While the Givans surname is relatively uncommon today, it remains a proud part of Scottish heritage, with its roots firmly planted in the rugged landscapes and rich history of the Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Givans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Givans 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. Lanarkshire leads with 16 Givans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.38x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 16 15.38x
Ayrshire 10 41.55x
Northumberland 4 8.36x
Dunbartonshire 2 23.15x
Angus 1 3.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 6 Givans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.32x.

Place Total Index
Govan 6 23.32x
Old Monkland 6 145.28x
St Quivox 6 740.74x
Cowpen 4 363.64x
Newton On Ayr 4 555.56x
Glasgow 3 16.24x
Barony 1 3.80x
Cumbernauld 1 212.77x
Dundee 1 8.99x
Kirkintilloch 1 85.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Archbold 1
William 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 Givans households.

FAQ

Givans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Givans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Givans surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Givans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Givans a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Givans surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Givens, potentially referring to a generous or generous-natured person.

What does the Givans map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Givans 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.