Ivers — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning

Irish form: Ó hÍomhair

Meaning: 'descendant of Íomhar (the Norse name Ívarr)'

Traditional stronghold: Louth

Pronunciation: EYE-verz; Irish Ó hÍomhair: oh HEE-vir

History of the Ivers name

Ivers derives from the Norse personal name Ívarr, adopted into Irish as Íomhar during the Viking centuries and used to form the surnames Ó hÍomhair and Mac Íomhair. The principal Irish family of the name belonged to the old kingdom of Oriel and has long been associated with County Louth and its borders, while related patronymics in Ulster and Scotland produced McIvor and MacIver. A separate landed family called Ievers, of English origin, settled in Clare in the seventeenth century and built Mount Ievers Court near Sixmilebridge, one of Ireland's finest early Georgian houses, so Clare bearers of the name may descend from either source.

Variants: Ievers · Ivors · McIvor

Famous bearers of the name

  • Eileen Ivers — Nine-time All-Ireland champion fiddler born in New York to Mayo parents, a star of Riverdance.

Related names from the same part of Ireland: Plunkett · Carr · Halpin

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