Surname Shiver/shivers - Meaning and Origin
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Shiver/shivers: What does the surname Shiver/shivers mean?
The surname Shiver/Shivers is of English origin and likely derives from an occupational name for a 'watchman' or 'guard'. It is considered to have originated from the Old English term "scirware", meaning 'shire-warden'. The term was then hybridized with other components like 'shive', an Old English term meaning a 'splinter' or a 'slice'.
These terminologies were generally used to identify someone by their occupation or by their personal characteristics. Hence, anyone bearing the surname Shiver/Shivers could have an ancestral link to someone who was a sheriffs, guards, or a person who worked with wood and may be likely to produce 'shives' or 'splinters'.
However, it's important to note that surnames can have different origins even within the same country. While the above explanations are plausible, individual family histories may vary. Therefore, for an exact understanding of one's family lineage, it is advisable to research one’s specific genealogy.
Order DNA origin analysisShiver/shivers: Where does the name Shiver/shivers come from?
Today, the name Shiver/Shivers is most commonly found in the United States. Variants of the name sometimes feature an additional letter, such as Shivers, Shieval and Shiverdecker. According to the Social Security Administration, it is estimated that just over 7,000 people in the United States bear the surname Shivers.
The name can be found in concentrated areas across the United States. The states which hold the most people bearing the name are Texas with over 935 people, Virginia with over 680 people, and Georgia with over 600 people. Smaller populations are found in other states, such as Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Counties that hold the most instances of the name include Lamar County, TX, Amherst County, VA, and Douglas County, GA.
The French origin of the name Shiver/Shivers can be traced to the word "chevriere" which translated literally means "he goat," and figuratively a person of that name was said to be brave, daring, and combative. Additionally, the surname is often associated with the Old English origins, as records of a William Shives or Shivers can be traced back to 1272 in Oxfordshire, England.
Shiver/ Shivers can also be found sporadically outside of the United States in countries such as the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Germany, and France.
Variations of the surname Shiver/shivers
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Shiver/Shivers is Schiefer, Schifter, Schiefeter, Schiefert, Scheiffer, Scheiffert, Scheifferth, Schiver, Shiefer, Shiefert, Schief, Scheiffer, Scheifer, Scheyffer, Scheyfert, Sheevers, Shief, Shiefer, Shiefly, Shiefly, Shif, Shifer, Shiffer, Shiflet, Shiflett, Shiflett, Shifletts, Shive, Shiverd, Shiverde, Shiverer, Shiverick, Shivey, Shoff, Shoffler, Shoffner, Shove, Tshiefer, Tschiffer, and Zychiewicz. The origin of the surname is German and Dutch and is derived from the Middle High German word “schieber” meaning a trader. Alternate spellings are Schyffer and Schijfer.
The variant surnames can be found in German and Dutch records, primarily originating from northern Germany and in the Low Countries of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Many of these variants can be found in the United States as well as other parts of the world after waves of immigrants from Germany throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Some common and notable variations of the name include Shiffer, Shiever, Shiebler, and Shifflet. Many of these variations can be seen in the records of Pennsylvania, the largest concentration of Shiver/Shivers families. The surname can still be found commonly in the United States but appears much less prevalent in Europe.
Famous people with the name Shiver/shivers
- Dan Shivers: best known for the work with the electronic music duo Daedelus.
- Larry Shivers: an American actor who is best known for his work in various roles in television shows and movies such as Home Improvement and Masked and Anonymous.
- Brittani Shivers: Former contestant on the American reality TV series Hell's Kitchen and a winner of the second series of Food Network's Chopped.
- Roy Shivers: Former American player of Canadian football who played as a running back and as an executive in the Canadian Football League.
- Wyatt Shivers: American YouTuber with over 1.5 million subscribers.
- Caleb Shivers: An American comedian and actor best known for his roles in films such as The Shooter and We Are Not Alone.
- Alexa Shivers: A professional basketball player in the WNBA, playing for the Los Angeles Sparks.
- Anfernee Shivers: American football player who is currently playing for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.
- Jordan Shivers: Former American basketball player who played for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Matthew Shivers: Australian actor and producer who is best known for his performance in the ABC TV drama series, Underbelly.