NameCensus.

UK surname

Macniven

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacNeachdainn, meaning "son of the pure one."

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Macniven surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination and Ardchattan and Muckairn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oban South, Oban North and Fort William North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macniven is 250 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 252.1%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

2016

250 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macniven had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 107 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Macniven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macniven surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macniven 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 107 #22,967
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 245 #16,012
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 234 #16,343
2004 modern 235 #16,379
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 236 #16,617
2008 modern 240 #16,535
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 249 #16,954
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Macnivens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination, Ardchattan and Muckairn, Edinburgh and Kilninian and Kilmore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oban South, Oban North, Fort William North, Benderloch Trail and Waverley. 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 Lismore and Appin Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Ardchattan and Muckairn Argyll
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Kilninian and Kilmore Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oban South Argyll and Bute
2 Oban North Argyll and Bute
3 Fort William North Highland
4 Benderloch Trail Argyll and Bute
5 Waverley 012 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macniven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macniven

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macniven, 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 Macniven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Macniven 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, Macniven 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

Macniven is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macniven falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macniven is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Macniven

The surname MACNIVEN originated in Scotland during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic name MacNiven or MacNevin, which means "son of the little monk" or "son of the abbot." The name likely refers to an ancestor who was a member of a monastic order or had some association with a monastery.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various Scottish records from the 15th and 16th centuries, such as the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland and the Records of the Parliaments of Scotland. One notable example is Sir John McNiven, who was a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament in the late 16th century.

The MACNIVEN surname is particularly associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly the regions of Argyll and Bute, where many families bearing this name have historically resided. The name has also been linked to the area of Lochaber, which was once part of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.

Over the centuries, the MACNIVEN surname has undergone various spelling variations, including MacNiven, McNiven, MacNevin, and McNevin, among others. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the influence of other languages, such as English and Scots.

One notable bearer of the MACNIVEN surname was Sir John MacNiven (c. 1545-1616), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament who played a role in the tumultuous events surrounding the Scottish Reformation. Another individual with this surname was Archibald MacNiven (c. 1685-1737), a Scottish merchant and trader who was involved in the early settlement of the American colonies.

In more recent times, the MACNIVEN surname has been carried by several notable individuals, including Robert MacNiven (1891-1973), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons, and John MacNiven (1903-1984), a Scottish-American actor and film producer who worked in Hollywood during the mid-20th century.

While the MACNIVEN surname is relatively rare compared to some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, business, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macniven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macniven 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. Argyllshire leads with 14 Macnivens recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.44x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 14 90.44x
Midlothian 13 17.45x
Ross-shire 10 65.49x
East Lothian 6 81.52x
Clackmannanshire 5 108.93x
Inverness-shire 5 30.12x
Lanarkshire 2 1.11x
Perthshire 1 4.01x
Renfrewshire 1 2.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 12 Macnivens recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.05x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 40.05x
Lochbroom 10 1250.00x
Bowmore 7 1944.44x
Haddington 6 550.46x
Dollar 5 1041.67x
Inverness 5 119.62x
Kilarrow 3 1764.71x
Glenorchy Inishail 2 1111.11x
Kilninian Kilmore 2 425.53x
Auchterarder 1 142.86x
Barony 1 2.20x
Eastwood 1 37.74x
Govan 1 2.25x
South Leith 1 11.93x

FAQ

Macniven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macniven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Macniven surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macniven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Macniven a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Macniven surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacNeachdainn, meaning "son of the pure one."

What does the Macniven map show?

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