NameCensus.

UK surname

Niven

A locational surname originating from Niven in Scotland, derived from Scottish Gaelic nabuidh meaning "newcomer".

In the 1881 census there were 2,094 people recorded with the Niven surname, ranking it #2,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,331, ranked #2,796, down from #2,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Andrews South East, Kirkcudbright and St Andrews North and Strathkinness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Niven is 2,446 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.3%.

1881 census count

2,094

Ranked #2,110

Modern count

2,331

2016, ranked #2,796

Peak year

1901

2,446 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Niven had 2,094 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,331 in 2016, ranked #2,796.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,446 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Niven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Niven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Niven 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 1,545 #1,853
1861 historical 1,592 #1,791
1881 historical 2,094 #2,110
1891 historical 2,214 #2,109
1901 historical 2,446 #2,227
1911 historical 419 #8,985
1997 modern 2,228 #2,781
1998 modern 2,288 #2,821
1999 modern 2,282 #2,849
2000 modern 2,265 #2,851
2001 modern 2,237 #2,821
2002 modern 2,295 #2,817
2003 modern 2,264 #2,788
2004 modern 2,235 #2,829
2005 modern 2,236 #2,790
2006 modern 2,235 #2,793
2007 modern 2,242 #2,805
2008 modern 2,232 #2,846
2009 modern 2,257 #2,886
2010 modern 2,311 #2,883
2011 modern 2,263 #2,905
2012 modern 2,244 #2,872
2013 modern 2,283 #2,874
2014 modern 2,304 #2,864
2015 modern 2,304 #2,834
2016 modern 2,331 #2,796

Geography

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Where Nivens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Andrews South East, Kirkcudbright, St Andrews North and Strathkinness, IZ13 and IZ12. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Andrews South East Fife
2 Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway
3 St Andrews North and Strathkinness Fife
4 IZ13 West Dunbartonshire
5 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Niven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Niven

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Niven 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

Niven 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

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

Meaning and origin of Niven

The surname Niven is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Naomhán, meaning "little saint" or "favourite." It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Scottish records, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Nevyn." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved from the Gaelic word "naoimh," meaning "saint."

In the 14th century, the name Niven was associated with the Clan Macnab, a Highland Scottish clan based in the Breadalbane region of Perthshire. The Macnabs were known as fierce warriors and loyal supporters of the Scottish monarchy.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Niven surname began to spread throughout Scotland, with concentrations in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Borders. Some notable individuals bearing the name during this period include Robert Niven, a merchant from Ayr who lived in the late 16th century, and John Niven, a Presbyterian minister from Lanarkshire in the early 17th century.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Niven surname became more widespread throughout the British Isles and beyond, as Scottish migrants and emigrants carried the name to various parts of the world. One notable Niven was David Niven (1910-1983), the acclaimed English actor and author who was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, and had a successful career in Hollywood.

Other notable individuals with the surname Niven include:

1. John Niven (1925-2019), a Scottish author and playwright known for his novels and adaptations for television and film. 2. William Niven (1842-1917), a Scottish-American architect who designed many notable buildings in California, including the Bradbury Building in Los Angeles. 3. James Niven (1772-1808), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer best known for his work on the theory of spherical geometry. 4. Frederick Niven (1878-1944), a Canadian politician who served as the 18th Premier of Alberta from 1925 to 1937. 5. Liam Niven (born 1988), a Scottish professional golfer who has competed on the European Tour and PGA Tour.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Niven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Niven 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 424 Nivens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.45x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 424 6.45x
Renfrewshire 223 14.15x
Midlothian 200 7.34x
Aberdeenshire 170 9.03x
Ayrshire 155 10.19x
Fife 149 12.38x
Stirlingshire 106 14.14x
Angus 98 5.20x
Dunbartonshire 74 13.55x
Middlesex 64 0.31x
Perthshire 64 7.01x
Lancashire 39 0.16x
Wigtownshire 30 11.11x
Dumfriesshire 28 6.24x
Kent 26 0.37x
Yorkshire 26 0.13x
Argyllshire 22 3.89x
Roxburghshire 20 5.43x
Surrey 19 0.19x
Cheshire 18 0.40x
Durham 13 0.21x
Banffshire 12 2.85x
Clackmannanshire 12 7.15x
Kincardineshire 11 4.44x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 3.40x
Selkirkshire 10 5.44x
West Lothian 8 2.61x
Shropshire 7 0.40x
Glamorgan 6 0.17x
Peeblesshire 5 5.23x
Buteshire 4 3.25x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.24x
Hampshire 3 0.07x
Morayshire 3 0.95x
Somerset 3 0.09x
Sussex 3 0.09x
Worcestershire 3 0.11x
Denbighshire 2 0.26x
Essex 2 0.05x
Inverness-shire 2 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
East Lothian 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x

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 170 Nivens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

Place Total Index
Govan 170 10.45x
Barony 98 5.89x
Glasgow 88 7.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 72 6.57x
Dundee 60 8.53x
Falkirk 50 28.49x
West Greenock 39 13.79x
Forgue 38 224.72x
Dunfermline 35 18.91x
Paisley High Church 34 27.11x
Abbey 31 12.90x
Larbert 27 60.24x
South Leith 26 8.48x
Aberdeen Old Machar 22 5.60x
Neilston 21 26.55x
Cardross 19 28.97x
Maryhill 19 14.76x
Paisley Low Church 19 38.10x
Dumbarton 18 23.67x
North Leith 18 14.28x
Ayr 17 23.67x
Lochwinnoch 17 72.40x
New Kilpatrick 17 32.71x
Forgan 16 69.41x
Cathcart 15 17.60x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 14 3.97x
Ashford 14 20.73x
Campsie 13 31.59x
Bothwell 12 6.73x
Currie 12 71.99x
Dailly 12 77.32x
Denny 12 30.09x
Maybole 12 25.91x
Redgorton 12 118.46x
Carnock 11 149.46x
Cruden 11 45.38x
Hornsey 11 4.28x
Huntly 11 35.91x
Kilwinning 11 22.39x
Paisley Middle Church 11 11.99x
Shettleston 11 18.69x
Shoreditch London 11 1.25x
St Andrews 11 20.09x
St Boswells 11 164.67x
Auchtermuchty 10 61.84x
Bow London 10 3.86x
Dundonald 10 17.83x
Dunino 10 476.19x
Edinburgh Greenside 10 27.79x
Edinburgh St Georges 10 17.69x
Girvan 10 26.18x
Liberton 10 23.79x
Auchterless 9 60.20x
Auckinleck 9 19.11x
Bromley London 9 2.01x
Glencorse 9 86.04x
Holy Trinity 9 1.86x
Mains 9 56.21x
Port Glasgow 9 11.82x
Row 9 12.74x
Sorbie 9 76.27x
Aboyne 8 80.48x
Cummertrees 8 105.12x
Echt 8 88.20x
Kilconquhar 8 55.87x
Kilmarnock 8 4.42x
Kilmore Kilbride 8 22.27x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 8 108.99x
Leuchars 8 52.56x
New Monkland 8 4.12x
Pendleton In Salford 8 2.78x
Penge 8 6.16x
Penninghame 8 29.06x
Coupar Angus 7 39.28x
Cupar 7 13.37x
East Greenock 7 4.71x
Edinburgh St Johns 7 40.72x
Montrose 7 6.13x
Wellington 7 7.09x
Whithorn 7 34.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Isabella 9
Jessie 8
Margaret 8
Agnes 6
Elizabeth 5
Jane 5
Ann 4
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Hellen 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
A. 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Ethel 1
Euphenia 1
Grace 1
Helena 1
Henretta 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jannet 1
Jeanie 1
Jemmima 1
Jennett 1
Katherine 1
Lousa 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 22
John 17
Robert 8
William 8
Thomas 7
David 6
Charles 5
George 5
Alexander 4
Henry 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Oswald 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Adam 1
Adolphus 1
Albert 1
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Charels 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gilbert 1
Golding 1
Harry 1
Herb. 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Ninian 1
Robt. 1
Thnon 1
W. 1
W.Alexander 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Ernest 1

FAQ

Niven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Niven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,094 people were recorded with the Niven surname. That placed it at #2,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Niven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,331 in 2016. That gives Niven a modern rank of #2,796.

What does the Niven surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Niven in Scotland, derived from Scottish Gaelic nabuidh meaning "newcomer".

What does the Niven map show?

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