UK surname
Hindi surname meaning prosperous or wealthy.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Sivan surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Caple, Tudeley, Pembury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sivan is 115 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.6%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
115 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sivan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sivan surname density by area, 1861 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 9 | #32,754 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Caple, Tudeley, Pembury, St Dunstan Stepney and St John Hackney. 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 | Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) | Durham |
| 2 | Arbroath and St. Vigeans | Forfar |
| 3 | Caple, Tudeley, Pembury | Kent |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sivan 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 Sivan, 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 Sivan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sivan 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, Sivan 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 Sivan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sivan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sivan is of Hebrew origin, originating in the ancient Middle East region. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Siwan," which refers to the month of Sivan in the Hebrew calendar. This month falls between late May and late June in the Gregorian calendar.
Sivan is believed to have emerged as a surname among Jewish communities in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions during the medieval period. It was likely adopted by families who lived in areas where the Hebrew calendar and language played a significant role in daily life.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Sivan can be found in the Cairo Geniza, a collection of Jewish manuscripts dating back to the 11th century. These documents contain references to individuals bearing the surname Sivan, suggesting its use in the Jewish communities of the Middle East during that time.
In the 13th century, the renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar, Moses ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides (1135-1204), mentioned individuals with the surname Sivan in his writings. This indicates the presence of families bearing this name in the Jewish communities of Spain and North Africa.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sivan surname is found in various Jewish community records across Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Notable individuals with this surname include Rabbi Shlomo Sivan (1520-1587), a prominent Talmudic scholar and author from Salonica (present-day Thessaloniki, Greece).
In the late 19th century, the Sivan surname gained recognition with the birth of Abraham Hirsch Sivan (1859-1933), a prominent Zionist leader and Hebrew scholar from Vilnius, Lithuania. He played a significant role in the early years of the Zionist movement and the revival of the Hebrew language.
Other notable individuals with the surname Sivan include Yosef Sivan (1890-1972), an Israeli politician and Knesset member, and Eyal Sivan (born 1964), an Israeli filmmaker and documentary director known for his critically acclaimed works exploring political and social themes.
While the surname Sivan has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and culture, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Jewish communities and individuals who have emigrated from the Middle East and other regions over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sivan 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. Middlesex leads with 10 Sivans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 10 | 3.20x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 27.89x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 14.35x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 12.27x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.88x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.45x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.27x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 8 Sivans recorded in 1881 and an index of 162.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town | 8 | 162.60x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 6 | 35.67x |
| Stanstead Abbots | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Dudley | 5 | 101.01x |
| Cheriton | 1 | 232.56x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 58.82x |
| Chorley In Macclesfield | 1 | 476.19x |
| Ditton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 41.32x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.31x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 16.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sivan 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 Sivan 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 Sivan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agr Labourer | 1 |
| Bookkeeper & Barmaid (Inn Serv) | 1 |
| Brass Finisher | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Teacher (School) | 1 |
| Wine Cellarman | 1 |
| Wine Cellarmans Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Sivan surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Sivan a modern rank of #35,582.
Hindi surname meaning prosperous or wealthy.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sivan 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.