Home Page

This website is for the Girven Family. This site is now being modernised and improved in October 2019, this is to make it more friendly for mobiles and tablets but also to give it a modern clean look. Please contact Peter Girven by email at prgirven@hotmail.com with any questions.

I also have a sister website for the Maddren Family, this is located at the following address:

https://sites.google.com/site/maddren1family/home

In October 2019 I have updated the Girven website to have a more modern look, also to make them more mobile and tablet friendly, I have also updated the Maddren website.

I have created a sister website for the Wightman Family, this is located at the following address:

https://sites.google.com/view/jesse-wightman/home

This is for the Wightman family in Sussex that I have had the privilege to partially research.

Girven Background

There are two different Girven family trees in New Zealand. The family that I have descended from is from Adam Girven born in 1844. My Great Grandfather Adam Girven emigrated to New Zealand in 1864, he married Harriet Ball and they created a large family in New Zealand. Adam came from Fivemiletown, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, he was born in 1844 and his Father was Richard Girven/Girvan, his mother from his death certificate was Elizabeth McKay.

The second family in New Zealand are descended from William John Girven, they are based around the Birkenhead area of the United Kingdom and they had several members who emigrated to New Zealand and to Australia. William John Girvan was born in Scotland, his family tree has been well researched by Malcolm MacAlpine.

There is also Girven Family in Canada, this family descends from James Girven born 1804 and Robert Girven born 1796, Uncles of my Great Grandfather Adam Girven. They had both emigrated to Canada early in 1830's as James son Robert was born in 1835 in Canada. There is also a Girvan branch in Canada, they originate from my Adams nephew who is also called Adam born in 1884 who settled in Canada in 1913.

I have also discovered a second Girven family in Australia, they descend from Robert Girven born in 1850, I suspect he is also is from the same Girvan family in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.