NameCensus.

UK surname

Macivor

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Iomhair meaning "son of Ivor".

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Macivor surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North West, Dingwall and Tain.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macivor is 124 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 195.2%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

2016

124 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macivor had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 81 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Macivor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macivor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macivor 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 81 #25,130
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 116 #26,510
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Macivors 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 Caithness North West, Dingwall, Tain, Bolton and Thurso West. 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 Caithness North West Highland
2 Dingwall Highland
3 Tain Highland
4 Bolton 019 Bolton
5 Thurso West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macivor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macivor

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Macivor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Macivor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Macivor 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

Macivor is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Macivor

The surname MacIvor is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Iomhair, meaning "son of Ivor" or "son of Ivor the Pilgrim." The name can be traced back to the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada, which encompassed parts of what is now Argyll and the Hebrides islands in western Scotland.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle, which mentions a "MacIvor" in the year 1182. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the MacIvors were part of the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful Scottish clans. They held lands in the Isle of Islay and the Kintyre peninsula, where they were prominent figures in local affairs.

The spelling of the name has evolved over time, with variations such as MacIvor, McIvor, M'Ivor, and Ivor appearing in historical records. Some early bearers of the name include Duncan M'Ivor, a chieftain who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, a branch of the MacIvors settled in the Highlands, where they became affiliated with the Clan Campbell. One notable figure from this period was Iain MacDhòmhnaill MacIvor, a 16th-century poet and warrior who composed several works in Scottish Gaelic.

During the Jacobite risings of the 18th century, members of the MacIvor clan fought alongside the Jacobite forces, supporting the claims of the Stuart monarchs to the British throne. Evan MacIver, a prominent Jacobite leader, was killed at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, marking a significant event in the clan's history.

Other notable individuals with the surname MacIvor include:

1. Sir Lewis MacIvor (1817-1892), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. 2. Evelyn MacIvor (1893-1976), a renowned Scottish actress and playwright who performed in several productions on the London stage. 3. Iain MacIvor (1923-2014), a Scottish writer and historian who authored several books on the history and culture of the Hebrides islands. 4. Angus MacIvor (1928-2005), a Scottish politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party from 1974 to 1979. 5. Catriona MacIvor (born 1965), a Scottish artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries across the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macivor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macivor 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. Caithness leads with 18 Macivors recorded in 1881 and an index of 421.55x.

County Total Index
Caithness 18 421.55x
Lanarkshire 4 3.96x
Hampshire 3 4.69x
Middlesex 2 0.64x
Ross-shire 2 23.34x
Inverness-shire 1 10.73x
Midlothian 1 2.39x
Morayshire 1 20.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Olrig in Caithness leads with 8 Macivors recorded in 1881 and an index of 3809.52x.

Place Total Index
Olrig 8 3809.52x
Watten 6 4000.00x
Lanark 4 493.83x
Brading 3 352.94x
Bromley London 2 29.15x
Latheron 2 281.69x
Wick 2 144.93x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 114.94x
Elgin 1 106.38x
Inverness 1 42.74x
Lochcarron 1 625.00x
Urray 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bessie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
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 Macivor households.

FAQ

Macivor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macivor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Macivor surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macivor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Macivor a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Macivor surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Iomhair meaning "son of Ivor".

What does the Macivor map show?

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