McGivern Is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Uidhrín, a patronymic from a personal name which is from a diminutive of odhar ‘dun’. This surname is also found in Galloway in Scotland, where it is of Irish origin. They belonged to Cenél Fearadhaigh, or 'race of Ferry', descend from Feradach mac Muiredach (Ferry MacMurdoch), a great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, and by the 12th century controlled a large portion of County Tyrone and had penetrated deep into County Fermanagh but where reduced in the mid-14th century, by the Maguires.
Annals of Loch Cé
Late 11th Century: Uidhrin Ua Maoil-Muire (d. 1082ad) was chief of Cinel Fearadhaigh. Note: He was father of Eachmarcach.
Early 11th Century: Eachmarcach Mac Uidhrin (d. 1120ad) was chief of Cinel Fearadhaigh, and his son was Giolla-Christ Ua hUidhrin in the present Co. Tyrone.
1129: Gillachrist Mac Uidhrin (son of Eachmarcach), chief of Cenel-Fcradhaigh, was burned in the house of his fosterer, in Tir-Manach, in treachery.
Cnoc Mhig Uidhrin, meaning "MacGivern's Hill"
This was used as the general name for the Bishop's four mensal townlands in Garvaghy Parish, Co. Down. All their names were, Knockgorm, Killaney, Castlevennon and Balloolymore. There were many clergy of the MacGivern name in Dromore Diocese in 15th century and there could be a link between some of them and the townland.
Cecil McGivern
Ed McGivern
Gary McGivern
Geoff McGivern (footballer)
Geoffrey McGivern
John McGivern
Leighton McGivern
Ryan McGivern (born 1990), Northern Ireland international footballer