Surname Sciver - Meaning and Origin
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Sciver: What does the surname Sciver mean?
The surname Sciver is most likely of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch word "schrijver," which translates to "scribe" or "writer" in English. Historically, a scribe was a person who could read and write, serving as record keeper in a time when many people were illiterate. This profession often evolved into a family surname as trades were often passed down through generations. Therefore, the Sciver surname may suggest that the original bearers of this name likely worked as scribes or keepers of written records. Surfacing primarily in the Netherlands, the name may have undergone multiple spellings and pronunciations over centuries and as it moved between countries and languages. However, the exact lineage and meaning can vary widely, as surnames' meanings often changed over time and could be influenced by geographical location, ancestors’ occupation, character traits, or a significant event.
Order DNA origin analysisSciver: Where does the name Sciver come from?
The surname Sciver is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today, particularly in Wales, Scotland, and England. It is not especially common, and the areas it is found in have a long history of the surname.
The map of the United Kingdom gives a good indication of the distribution of the surname Sciver. It is particularly common in North Wales, and its neighbouring counties including Gwynedd, Flintshire, Denbighshire, and Wrexham. It is also found in other parts of the UK, including the East and West of Scotland, and some parts of England, notably Cumbria and Yorkshire.
According to data from the Office of National Statistics, the surname Sciver ranks at about 15,000 for the number of people in the UK who share it. This places it at the 243rd most common surname in the country, and is a fairly small number.
Though the surname's ultimate origin is uncertain, it is believed to have evolved from a Welsh patronymic meaning ‘son of Syfrdwr’, a name derived from Welsh which means ‘leader’. Although it is not as common as it used to be, the surname is still a relatively rare find in the UK today.
Variations of the surname Sciver
The surname Sciver is derived from the Dutch word "Siveer", which is a derivative of the word "sieve". This surname was originally most commonly found in the Netherlands, but variants of the name can be found in other parts of Europe and the world today.
In the Netherlands, the surname can be spelled as Siveer, Slyver, Sigver, or Syver. In Germany and Austria it is often spelled as Ziever or Ziever, while in England the spelling Siever is common. All of these spellings are derived from the same origin.
In some cases, the surname can be used as a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the given name of the father. For example, the Dutch surname Van Siveer or Van Syver translates to "from Siveer" and as such, is the surnamename of the offspring of someone living in a place called Siveer.
The surname can also be seen in forms such as Cifer, Civeer, Siefer, Seifer, Seiver, Seiveer, Sipper, Siwer, Skewer, Szifer, and Sziver. These spellings are more commonly found in France, Germany, and Austria.
Finally, it is common to find this surname in its shortened or anglicized form of Siv, which is the most popular variant in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. It is also seen in the form of Seiv, Seive, Szive, Sive, and Syv.
In the end, regardless of how the surname is spelled, all of these variations are derived from the same word of Dutch origin and refer to a person’s ancestry or homeland.
Famous people with the name Sciver
- Natalie Sciver: Professional English cricketer.
- William Sciver: American professional hockey player.
- Blake Sciver: Award-winning American filmmaker and photographer.
- Robert Sciver: Award-winning American photographer and visual artist.
- Stephen Sciver: Professional American illustrator.
- Jeffrey Sciver: Award-winning American theatre director.
- Patricia Sciver: Award-winning American stage actress.
- Mark Sciver: Professional American sculptor.
- Deborah Sciver: Professional American painter.
- Barbara Sciver: American entrepreneur and philanthropist.