NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcivor

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Ivor", a Scottish form of Iverus, a Breton name.

In the 1881 census there were 567 people recorded with the Mcivor surname, ranking it #6,120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,657, ranked #3,763, up from #6,120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Forres South West and Mannachie and IZ11.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcivor is 1,686 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 192.2%.

1881 census count

567

Ranked #6,120

Modern count

1,657

2016, ranked #3,763

Peak year

2010

1,686 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcivor had 567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,657 in 2016, ranked #3,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 917 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcivor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcivor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcivor 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 345 #7,398
1881 historical 567 #6,120
1891 historical 750 #5,311
1901 historical 917 #5,074
1911 historical 242 #13,193
1997 modern 1,518 #3,870
1998 modern 1,554 #3,930
1999 modern 1,568 #3,933
2000 modern 1,548 #3,956
2001 modern 1,516 #3,949
2002 modern 1,562 #3,943
2003 modern 1,524 #3,943
2004 modern 1,519 #3,953
2005 modern 1,552 #3,840
2006 modern 1,538 #3,865
2007 modern 1,584 #3,799
2008 modern 1,605 #3,783
2009 modern 1,662 #3,760
2010 modern 1,686 #3,788
2011 modern 1,668 #3,775
2012 modern 1,626 #3,785
2013 modern 1,640 #3,832
2014 modern 1,670 #3,782
2015 modern 1,660 #3,769
2016 modern 1,657 #3,763

Geography

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Where Mcivors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Forres South West and Mannachie, IZ11, Stockton-on-Tees and The Inch. 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 Wick Caithness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 Forres South West and Mannachie Moray
3 IZ11 West Dunbartonshire
4 Stockton-on-Tees 004 Stockton-on-Tees
5 The Inch City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcivor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcivor

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcivor, 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 Mcivor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcivor 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcivor 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

Mcivor 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcivor

The surname McIvor is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ivar, which means "warrior" or "archer." It is believed to have originated in the region of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland, where it was a common name among the clans.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in ancient Scottish charters and records. One notable example is Sir Gillespie McIvor, a prominent nobleman who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful clans in the Scottish Highlands. A renowned member of the clan was Angus McIvor, a skilled archer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Langside in 1568, where he fought against the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The name McIvor has also been associated with the Isle of Islay, one of the Inner Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland. The McIvors were a prominent clan on the island, and their name is linked to several place names, such as Kilmeny and Kilarrow.

In the 17th century, the McIvors were involved in the Jacobite uprisings, supporting the Stuart claim to the British throne. One notable figure from this period was Alasdair McIvor, a Jacobite soldier who fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising.

Another significant figure was Duncan McIvor, a Scottish historian and author who lived in the late 18th century. He wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands, preserving valuable information about the McIvor clan and other Highland families.

Throughout history, the McIvor surname has been associated with bravery, loyalty, and a strong connection to Scottish heritage and traditions. While the name may have evolved over time, its roots remain firmly tied to the rugged landscapes and rich cultural tapestry of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcivor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcivor 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. Lancashire leads with 12 Mcivors recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 12 4.94x
Northumberland 3 9.85x
Wiltshire 2 11.04x
Lanarkshire 1 1.51x
Staffordshire 1 1.45x
Sutherland 1 63.69x
Yorkshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 6 Mcivors recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.65x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 6 40.65x
West Derby 6 84.39x
Bradford On Avon 2 344.83x
Wallsend 2 206.19x
Creich 1 625.00x
Govan 1 6.11x
Leeds 1 8.73x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 63.29x
West Bromwich 1 25.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Christina 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Lily 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
John 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Robert 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 Mcivor households.

FAQ

Mcivor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcivor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 567 people were recorded with the Mcivor surname. That placed it at #6,120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcivor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,657 in 2016. That gives Mcivor a modern rank of #3,763.

What does the Mcivor surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Ivor", a Scottish form of Iverus, a Breton name.

What does the Mcivor map show?

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