Meaning and origin
The last name Givens originated from the patronymic linking of the personal name Given, commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the suffix "s" denoting the possessive form. Given is derived from the Middle English name "Gyffun," itself a variant of the Old Norse name "Geirfinnr," comprising the elements "geir" meaning "spear" and "finnr" meaning "person," indicative of a warrior or spearman. The surname Givens thus likely emerged as a patronymic surname denoting "son of Given" or "descendant of Given," ultimately tracing back to ancient Nordic and Gaelic roots.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,419
Givens was the 1,419th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 25,067 people, about 8.1 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Givens
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Givens is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.