NameCensus.

UK surname

Maciver

Scottish surname meaning "son of Ivor" or "son of Iver".

In the 1881 census there were 670 people recorded with the Maciver surname, ranking it #5,386 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,388, ranked #2,750, up from #5,386 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Barvas and Carloway and Gairloch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broadbay, Northwest Lewis and Stornoway West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maciver is 2,388 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 256.4%.

1881 census count

670

Ranked #5,386

Modern count

2,388

2016, ranked #2,750

Peak year

2016

2,388 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maciver had 670 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,386 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,388 in 2016, ranked #2,750.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,112 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Maciver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maciver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maciver 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 771 #3,468
1861 historical 525 #4,992
1881 historical 670 #5,386
1891 historical 624 #6,199
1901 historical 1,112 #4,348
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 1,942 #3,122
1998 modern 1,980 #3,181
1999 modern 2,044 #3,134
2000 modern 2,115 #3,021
2001 modern 2,063 #3,027
2002 modern 2,093 #3,060
2003 modern 2,063 #3,040
2004 modern 1,919 #3,215
2005 modern 1,933 #3,172
2006 modern 1,941 #3,174
2007 modern 1,975 #3,159
2008 modern 2,021 #3,122
2009 modern 2,034 #3,168
2010 modern 2,061 #3,197
2011 modern 2,041 #3,187
2012 modern 2,245 #2,870
2013 modern 2,296 #2,858
2014 modern 2,354 #2,813
2015 modern 2,350 #2,790
2016 modern 2,388 #2,750

Geography

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Where Macivers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Barvas and Carloway, Gairloch, Stornoway and Uig. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broadbay, Northwest Lewis, Stornoway West, Stornoway East and Point. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Barvas and Carloway Ross And Cromarty
3 Gairloch Ross And Cromarty
4 Stornoway Ross And Cromarty
5 Uig Ross And Cromarty

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broadbay Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Northwest Lewis Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Stornoway West Na h-Eileanan Siar
4 Stornoway East Na h-Eileanan Siar
5 Point Na h-Eileanan Siar

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maciver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maciver

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Maciver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Maciver household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maciver is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Maciver is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maciver 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 Maciver 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 Maciver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maciver

The surname MACIVER is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name Ivar or Imhar, combined with the prefix 'Mac' meaning son. The name traces its roots back to the 12th century, originating in the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, where it appears as 'MacIvyr'. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings in those times, as they were often adapted based on regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

One of the earliest known bearers of the MACIVER name was Gilchrist MacIver, a prominent figure in the Isle of Lewis during the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical records related to land disputes and clan allegiances in the region.

The MACIVER name has a strong association with the Isle of Lewis, where many of its earliest bearers lived. In the 16th century, the MacIvers of Lewis were considered a powerful clan, with their ancestral lands centered around the village of Shawbost.

Notably, the MACIVER name appears in the celebrated Gaelic manuscript known as the Book of the Dean of Lismore, compiled in the early 16th century. This manuscript preserves ancient Scottish poetry and contains references to several individuals bearing the MACIVER surname.

In the 17th century, Donald MACIVER (1618-1670) was a distinguished scholar and minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1666. His contributions to religious discourse and education were widely respected during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was John MACIVER (1758-1853), a Scottish merchant and explorer who played a pivotal role in establishing trade routes between Britain and the Pacific Northwest during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The MACIVER name also has a presence in the literary world, with the acclaimed Scottish novelist and poet Liam MACIVER (1893-1975) achieving recognition for his works depicting the lives and traditions of the Hebridean islanders.

Throughout its history, the MACIVER surname has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots, particularly in the Hebrides and the Isle of Lewis, where its earliest bearers established a lasting legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maciver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maciver 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. Ross-shire leads with 557 Macivers recorded in 1881 and an index of 333.77x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 557 333.77x
Inverness-shire 18 9.92x
Lancashire 14 0.19x
Lanarkshire 11 0.56x
Midlothian 11 1.35x
Caithness 5 6.01x
Staffordshire 4 0.20x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 1.38x
Sutherland 1 2.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stornoway in Ross-shire leads with 310 Macivers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1425.29x.

Place Total Index
Stornoway 310 1425.29x
Uig 62 819.02x
Gairloch 58 602.91x
Lochs 42 316.03x
Barvas 36 323.16x
Lochbroom 27 309.99x
Inverness 14 30.67x
Dingwall 8 170.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.14x
Toxteth Park 6 2.46x
Allerton 5 289.02x
Fodderty 5 118.48x
Latheron 5 35.92x
Barony 4 0.80x
Snizort 4 88.30x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.84x
Bothwell 3 5.63x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 18.95x
Govan 3 0.62x
Rosemarkie 3 164.84x
Cromarty 2 44.74x
Rosskeen 2 25.48x
West Derby 2 0.95x
Duddingston 1 6.12x
Killearnan 1 45.45x
Lairg 1 35.21x
Liverpool 1 0.23x
Old Monkland 1 1.28x
Resolis 1 33.56x
Royal Navy 1 1.62x
St Marylebone London 1 0.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ada 1
Adeleine 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Harriett 1
Maggie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Donald 1
Duncan 1
Henry 1
John 1
Nicholas 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Maciver households.

FAQ

Maciver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maciver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 670 people were recorded with the Maciver surname. That placed it at #5,386 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maciver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,388 in 2016. That gives Maciver a modern rank of #2,750.

What does the Maciver surname mean?

Scottish surname meaning "son of Ivor" or "son of Iver".

What does the Maciver map show?

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