Ivor is an English masculine given name derived either directly from the Norse ''Ívarr'', or from Welsh (which spells it ''Ifor''), Irish (sometimes ''Ibar''), or Scottish, all of which likely derive it also from the original Norse form.
[The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Names (1947) by E. G. Withycombe] The Norse name is derived from the Old Norse elements ''ýr'' (yew, bow) and ''herr'' (warrior, army): hence, 'archer, bow warrior'.
It is possible the old Norse name ''Ívarr'' comes from the Celtic root and may be related to the Celtic root of ''-iv'' which is found in ''St. Ives'' for example, itself possibly referring to yew. This could indicate an earlier shared language origin; potentially through
Indo-European
The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the overwhelming majority of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and the northern Indian subcontinent. Some European languages of this family, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, ...
, previous contact or another source.
Some of the earliest known bearers of the name are
Ibar of Beggerin, an Irish saint who may have preceded or been contemporary with
St. Patrick and probably died in the 500s;
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar the Boneless ( non, Ívarr hinn Beinlausi ; died c. 873), also known as Ivar Ragnarsson, was a Viking leader who invaded England and Ireland. According to the '' Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok'', he was the son of Ragnar Loðbrok and his wife As ...
, an 800s Viking who was possibly identical to the ''Ímair'' attested in Irish and Scottish annals; and
Ifor Bach, a Welsh leader of the 1100s.
People
Religious
Íbar of Killibar Beg, an early Irish saint. Unknown if related to
Ibar of Beggerin.
Academics
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Ivor Agyeman-Duah
Ivor Agyeman-Duah (born 1966) is a Ghanaian academic, economist, writer, editor and film director. He has worked in Ghana's diplomatic service and has served as an advisor on development policy.
Biography
Ivor Agyeman-Duah was born in Kumasi, Gha ...
(born 1966), Ghanaian academic, economist and writer
*
Ivor Grattan-Guinness
Ivor Owen Grattan-Guinness (23 June 1941 – 12 December 2014) was a historian of mathematics and logic.
Life
Grattan-Guinness was born in Bakewell, England; his father was a mathematics teacher and educational administrator. He gained his ...
, British historian of mathematics and logic
*
Ivor van Heerden
Ivor van Heerden holds a doctorate degree in Marine Sciences and was the deputy director of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Hurricane Center, before being dismissed by LSU with no reason given, following Hurricane Katrina. He is also the dire ...
, South African-born American meteorologist
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(1928–2014), British Africanist and historian
Arts and entertainment
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Ivor Barnard (1887–1953), English actor
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Ivor Casey (born 1983), Irish writer
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Ivor Cutler
Ivor Cutler (born Isadore Cutler, 15 January 1923 – 3 March 2006) was a Scottish poet, singer, musician, songwriter, artist and humorist. He became known for his regular performances on BBC radio, and in particular his numerous sessions recorde ...
(1923–2006), Scottish poet, songwriter and humorist
*
Iva Davies, lead singer of
Icehouse
Icehouse or ice house may refer to:
* Ice house (building), a building where ice is stored
* Ice shanty, a shelter for ice fishing also known as an ''Icehouse''
* Ice skating rink, a facility for ice skating.
* Ice hockey arena, an area where ice ...
*
Ivor Davies (artist)
Ivor Davies is a Welsh-speaking, Welsh artist born in Treharris, in November 1935. He currently lives and works in Penarth.
As a boy Davies went to Penarth County School. He studied at Cardiff College of Art and Swansea College of Art betw ...
(born 1935), Welsh painter
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Ivor Darreg (1917–1994), American composer
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Ivor Dean
Ivor Donald Dean (21 December 1917 – 10 August 1974) was a British stage, film and television actor.
Biography
With his lugubrious demeanour he was often cast as world-weary police officers or butlers, and indeed it is for the role of Chief I ...
(1917–1974), British actor
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Ivor Dennis
Kala Keerthi Pasquel Ge Don Augustine Ivor Dennis ( si, ඊවෝර් ඩෙනිස්) (28 May 1932 – 18 June 2018) was a popular Sri Lankan veteran playback singer who was also known as the former student of veteran icon Sunil Sant ...
(1932-2018), Sri Lankan Sinhala playback vocalist
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Ivor Emmanuel (1927–2007), British opera singer
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Ivor Francis
Ivor Francis (October 26, 1918 – October 22, 1986) was a Canadian-American character actor and acting teacher. He is the father of television soap opera actress Genie Francis.
Life and career
Francis was born in Toronto and began his acting ...
(1918–1986), Canadian-born American actor
*
Ivor Gurney
Ivor Bertie Gurney (28 August 1890 – 26 December 1937) was an English poet and composer, particularly of songs. He was born and raised in Gloucester. He suffered from bipolar disorder through much of his life and spent his last 15 years in ps ...
(1890–1937), English composer and poet
*
Ivor Hele
Sir Ivor Henry Thomas Hele, CBE (13 June 1912 – 1 December 1993) was an Australian artist noted for portraiture. He was Australia's longest serving war artist and completed more commissioned works than any other in the history of Aust ...
(1912–1993), Australian painter
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Ivor James
Ivor James CBE (1882–1963)Percy A. Scholes. "James, Ivor". ''Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music''. Oxford University Press, 1964. was a British cellist. He taught for many years at the Royal College of Music; among his pupils were those who beca ...
(1882–1963), British cellist
*
Ivor Mairants
Ivor Mairants (18 July 1908 – 20 February 1998) was a Polish jazz and classical guitarist, teacher and composer. With his wife Lily in 1958 he created the Ivor Mairants Musicentre, a specialist guitar store in London.
Biography
Ivor Mairan ...
(1908–1998), British-Polish guitarist
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Ivor Moreton (1908–1984), British singer and pianist
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Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century.
He was born into a musical ...
(1893–1951), Welsh entertainer
*
Ivor Roberts (actor)
Ivor Roberts (19 July 1925 – 5 September 1999) was a British actor and a television continuity announcer who often appeared in comedic roles.
Born in Nottingham, he returned to acting following service in the Royal Navy during the Second World ...
(1925–1999), British actor and television presenter
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Ivor Wood
Ivor Sydney Wood (4 May 1932 – 13 October 2004) was a prolific Anglo-French' animator, director, producer and writer. He was known for his work on children's television series.
Born in Leeds to an English father and a French mother, his famil ...
(1932–2004), British stop-motion animator
* Ivor Biggun, stage name of British musician
Doc Cox
Robert Doc Cox (born 1 July 1946), also known as Ivor Biggun, is a British musician and former television journalist. He is known for his appearances on the BBC TV programme '' That's Life!'' from 1982 to 1992 and for four albums of humorous, sm ...
Nobility
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Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill
Lord Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill (14 October 1898 – 17 September 1956) was the younger son of the 9th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, the former Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American railroad heiress. His elder brother, John, was the ...
(1898–1956), British art collector
Politicians and diplomats
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Ivor Callely
Ivor Callely (born 6 May 1958) is an Irish former politician who served as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-Central constituency from 1989 to 2007 and a member of Seanad Éireann from 2007 to 2011, having been nominated ...
(born 1958), Irish politician
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Ivor Caplin (born 1958), British politician
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Ivor Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne
Ivor Churchill Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne, KP, PC (16 January 1873 – 14 June 1939), known as Lord Ashby St Ledgers from 1910 to 1914 and as Lord Wimborne from 1914 to 1918, was a British politician and one of the last Lords Lieutenant of ...
(1873–1939), British politician
*
Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne
Ivor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne, 2nd Baronet, DL (29 August 1835 – 22 February 1914) was a British industrialist and a member of the prominent Guest family.
Early life
Ivor Bertie Guest was born at Dowlais, near Merthyr Tydfil, the so ...
(1835–1914), Welsh industrialist, father of the above
*
Ivor Richard, Baron Richard (1932-2018), British politician
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Ivor Roberts (diplomat) (born 1946), British diplomat
Sportsmen
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Ivor Allchurch (1929–1997), Wales international footballer
* Ivan
Ivor Broadis (1922–2019), England international footballer
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Ivor Bueb (1923–1959), British Formula One driver
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Ivor Jones (1901–1982), Welsh rugby union player
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Ivor McIvor (1917–1997), Australian rules footballer and captain-coach.
Fictional characters
* the title character of ''
Ivor the Engine'', an animated British TV series
* one of the characters in
the Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are conside ...
song "
A Quick One, While He's Away
"A Quick One, While He's Away" is a 1966 song in six movements written by Pete Townshend and recorded by the Who for their second album ''A Quick One''. The song also appears on the album '' BBC Sessions''. In the performance on their ''Live at ...
"
* one of the title characters of ''
Ivor Lott and Tony Broke'', a British comic strip
* a main character in the video game ''
Minecraft Story Mode''
* a character in the comedy duo act
Damo and Ivor
References
{{given name
Masculine given names