This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Niven,' or Nevin. I find no clue in the 13th and 14th century records. 'This series points to an early but forgotten personal name' (Lower's Patronymica Britannica).

But for the existence of Nevin and Nevens I should at once assume that Nevinson and Nevison were Neve-son (v. Neave), i.e. Nephewson, the intrusive 'n' in the former being extremely common in such forms. Neaverson presents no difficulty. Nevinson was bound to become Neverson, and of this Neaverson is but a variant; compare Pattinson and Patterson, or Cattinson and Catterson. The two following entries seem oddly enough to concern the same couple:

1635. Married — Robert Sharpe and Jane Nevisonn: St. Antholin (London).

1637. — Robert Sharpe and Jone Nevinson: ibid.

The following reference probably dates about the first year of Henry VI:

Jenetta fil. Nevans, ap Lyon, ap Jestin: Visitation of Gloucestershire, 1623.

1602. Richard Nevinson, Kent: Register of the University of Oxford.

My next entry denotes the change mentioned above as a natural one:

1728. Buried — John Neverson: St. Thomas the Apostle (London).

Nevison as a variant was inevitable:

1757. Married — John Park and Susanna Nevison.

The same changes are rung upon the Yorkshire Pattinsons, Pattersons, and Pattisons from the once familiar North-English Patrick.

'Son of Niven,' which see. Recorded in Dunfermline. Sir Angus de Novynesone persone of Tillydak, 1536 (SCM., IV, p. 202). 'De' here an error.

From Naomhin, 'little saint, saintlet.' Latinized Nevinus. Formerly a favorite personal name in Galloway and Ayrshire. Nevinus, parson of Neveth, witnessed grant of a saltpan in Rosneath to the monks of Paisley, c. 1230 (RMP., p. 211), and Patrick filius Nevyn mentioned in 1284 (ibid., p. 64) is doubtless Patrick fiz John Nevyn or Neivin of Lanerkshire who rendered homage, 1296 (Blair, II, p. 213). Thomas filius Neuini served on an inquest in 1295 (Rose, p. 30), another Thomas filius Nyuini or Niuini was a tenant in Garvalde, 1376, and Crunyhatoun was leased to Robert fil. Niuini in the same year (RHM., I, p. lvii-lviii). Thomas Nevin was king's messenger in 1538, and Hew Neving was burgess of Irvine, 1590 (Irvine, I, p. 42, 64). James Nevein, heir of John Nivein of Kirkwood, his grandfather, in 2 ½ merkland of Kirkwood, 1635 (Retours, Ayr, 297), John Nivine appears in Corslat, 1675 (Kilbarchan), and Patrick Niven or Knevan was a laborer at Castle Stewart, 1793 (Wigtown). The Nivens or Nevins of Monkredding were an old family in Ayrshire, found there in 1539 when they had cherter of these lands from the Abbey of Kilwinning (Ayr Fam., 111, p. 253: Robertson says, "from whence they were derived, or what became of them after leaving this place, are alike to me unknown") Thomas Newing, younger of Monkridding is in record, 1594 (Hunter, p. 33), and Thomas Nevin, heir of Thomas Nevin of Monkredding, his father, succeeded 1680 (Retours, Ayr, 617). As forename: Neuen Donaldson from Logy, 1392 (Grandtully, I, p. 143), Nevin Makgilvar, burgess of Invemess, 1430 (RMS., II), Nevinus Makmulron in St. Andrews, 1472 (ERUS., p. 52). Nevane 1683, Nevein 1623, Neveine 1603, Nevene 1598, Nevyne 1561, Nevyng 1560, Newein 1602, Newin 1610; Neiven, Nifin, Niving.

Niven’s Son, v. Niven.