McNiven or MacNiven is a surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Naoimhín.[1] The latter surname is derived from a personal name based upon naomh ("holy", "saint").[2] The surname MacNiven can be rendered in Scottish Gaelic as Mac'IlleNaoimh.[3]

Surname edit

Given name edit

Citations edit

References edit

  • Hanks, P; Coates, R; McClure, P, eds. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Vol. 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-879883-5.
  • Mark, C (2003). The Gaelic-English Dictionary. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-27706-6.