Surname Scriver - Meaning and Origin
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Scriver: What does the surname Scriver mean?
The surname Scriver is of English and perhaps Dutch origin. Its most likely English meaning comes from the Old English "scrifan" meaning 'to write', hence given to a scribe or clerk. In Dutch, it could have come from "schrijver", which also means 'writer'. Historically, occupations frequently evolved into family surnames. This means that an ancestor of the Scriver family may have been a person who held the occupation of a scribe or a writer, transcribing official documents or creating written works. This surname, like many, may have also undergone variations in spelling over time. Overall, the last name Scriver is connected to the profession of writing - pointing to a rich ancestral history in literature, record-keeping, or related fields.
Order DNA origin analysisScriver: Where does the name Scriver come from?
The last name Scriver is an English and German surname derived from the Old English word 'scrīfan', meaning 'scribe' or 'writer'. The name is still commonly found in areas of Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
In England, it is most commonly found in the East Midlands region around Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire. In Germany, the name is most common near the coast of the North Sea around Lower Saxony and the Netherlands. In the Middle East, the name has spread into Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.
In the United States, Scriver is very much a regional name with most people with the last name concentrated in states in the Upper Midwest such as Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is also fairly common in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire. It is less common in the South and Southwest, with only small pockets of the population in places like Texas and Louisiana. Canada also has pockets of the population with the surname in the Prairies, Ontario, and Quebec.
Scriver is a relatively rare surname outside of its geographical strongholds, but it is still in regular use today in many areas of Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Those with this last name can trace their family tree back to an area where the name originated centuries ago as a profession identifier.
Variations of the surname Scriver
The surname Scriver is derived from the old Scandinavian name Scriva. It is primarily found in England and Scotland, but is also commonly found in other parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, South Africa and America.
Variants of this surname include Schriver, Scrivener, Scrifer, Scrivan, and Skriver. These variants may be derived from the Old Scandinavian name or from the Latin word 'scribere,' meaning “to write.”
Spellings of Scriver include Scriver, Schriver, Scrivener, Scrifer, Skriver, and Scriven.
Surnames that are related to this same origin include Skriver, Thorsen, Sivertsen, Norgren, Sørenson, and Jensen.
In addition to the above, other places that have adopted this surname include Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Germany. The surname is also commonly used in the Netherlands and Belgium, with the variant Schrijver. In the United States, the surname is commonly rendered as Scrivener or Schriver.
Overall, the surname Scriver originated in Scandinavia, and its variants and spellings have spread to many countries and cultures over the years.
Famous people with the name Scriver
- Charles Scriver: Charles Scriver is a distinguished Canadian pediatrician and medical researcher. He is renowned for his research on specific vitamins, relationship between nutrition and genetic makeup, and fatty acid metabolism. He has published over 300 papers, and has won numerous awards such as an honorary doctorate from the University of Toronto and the Order of Canada.
- August Wilhelm Scriver: August Wilhelm Scriver was a German entomologist who mainly studied various species of bees and beetles. He was an expert on forms of honeybees and described numerous new species. He also researched various species of butterflies.
- Christian Scriver: Christian Scriver was a German-born Canadian Lutheran clergyman. He was the head of a Lutheran sect known as the Old Lutherans, and advocated for keeping to the principles of the Augsburg Confession, regardless of the vagaries of European state religions.
- Otto Scriver: Otto Scriver was a Swedish artist, mainly known for his landscape painting. His subdued, simple compositions captured the rustic, rural nature of Swedish life. His works can be found in various art museums throughout the country.
- Greg Scriver: Greg Scriver is a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for two championships. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins, and was noted for his energy and “tough as nails” attitude. He is now a Canadian sports icon.