UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who splits wood shingles or strips bark from trees.
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Shivers surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shivers is 123 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1891
123 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shivers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shivers surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 50 | #24,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 51 | #27,498 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 117 | #20,830 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Kettering and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Kettering | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shivers surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shivers, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shivers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shivers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shivers is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shivers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shivers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shivers is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Shivershall, located in the county of Shropshire. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "sciferan" and "halh," which together mean "a nook or recess in a slope."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sciuershal." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as "Shivershale" and "Shivershale," reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time. During this period, the name was primarily associated with families living in the region around Shivershall.
Notable bearers of the Shivers surname include John Shivers, a prominent merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century. Another early bearer of the name was William Shivers, a landowner from Shropshire who was recorded in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1672.
In the 18th century, the name gained broader recognition with the exploits of Captain Henry Shivers, a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). He was known for his bravery and leadership in several naval battles against the French.
Another significant figure was Elizabeth Shivers (1828-1898), an English author and activist who wrote extensively on women's rights and social reform. Her work played a crucial role in advancing the cause of women's suffrage in the late 19th century.
In the 20th century, one of the most well-known bearers of the Shivers name was Constance Shivers (1909-1986), an American sculptor and artist. Her works were exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the United States, cementing her reputation as a prominent figure in the American art scene.
The Shivers surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Shiversmill and Shiverstown, both located in Pennsylvania, United States. These place names further reflect the geographic spread of the surname over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shivers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 17 Shivers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 17 | 6.49x |
| Durham | 12 | 4.98x |
| Cambridgeshire | 11 | 21.46x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.94x |
| Angus | 7 | 9.33x |
| Dunbartonshire | 6 | 27.59x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 7.97x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 3.78x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.81x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.76x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.37x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 2.63x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Shivers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 12 | 18.53x |
| Thorney | 10 | 1754.39x |
| Dundee | 7 | 25.00x |
| Gateshead | 7 | 38.82x |
| Dumbarton | 6 | 198.02x |
| Heworth | 5 | 105.26x |
| Houston Killallan | 4 | 655.74x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 6.86x |
| Lye | 4 | 227.27x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 3 | 19.07x |
| Glasgow | 3 | 6.45x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 4.25x |
| Portsea | 3 | 9.23x |
| Everton | 2 | 6.53x |
| Gorbals | 2 | 129.03x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 12.38x |
| Bedford St Mary | 1 | 92.59x |
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 44.64x |
| Kettering | 1 | 32.47x |
| Paisley High Church | 1 | 20.04x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 18.15x |
| Windle | 1 | 18.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shivers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shivers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Shivers households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Ag Lab | 5 |
| Chemical Labourer | 2 |
| Dairy Farmer Employing 2 Hands | 2 |
| Boot Shoe Dealer Emply 2 Men 1 Boy | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Militia Recruit (Farm Labourer) | 1 |
| North (No Occ) | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Railway Guard | 1 |
| Road Laborer | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Stay Fanner | 1 |
| Town Waiter | 1 |
| Vice Maker | 1 |
| Wrought Nail Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Shivers surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Shivers a modern rank of #33,236.
An occupational surname for someone who splits wood shingles or strips bark from trees.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shivers bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.