Contents [hide]

Erwin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Erwin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

There was a native Irish Gaelic name Ó hEireamhóin, derived from a personal name of uncertain origins that came to be Erwin, but the great majority of this name in Ireland were planters, who arrived from Scotland in the 17th century. In the case of the latter, their name is ultimately derived from at least two place names in Scotland, the parish of Irving in county Dumfriesshire, or from Irvine in Strathclyde.

Early Origins of the Erwin family

The surname Erwin was first found in Dumfriesshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated with manor and estates in that shire. Records first show the Irving Clan in the year 1057 when they and other Border Clans assisted King Malcolm Canmore in defeating MacBeth and the unruly Pictish Clans to the north. Later records show that Robert Irving held lands in this county in 1226. Gilchrist Irving acquired land in Dumfriesshire in 1376. The barony, the Forest of Drum was passed on to William Irvine in the county of Aberdeenshire in 1324 and this was to remain in the Irving hands for several generations. Sir Alexander Irvine of this estate, fell in the battle of Harlaw in 1411.

Early History of the Erwin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Erwin research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1659, 1714, 1740, 1779, 1804 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Erwin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Erwin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Irvine, Irving, Ervine, Irwin, Erwin and others.

Early Notables of the Erwin family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Erwin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Erwin Ranking

In the United States, the name Erwin is the 1,250^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Erwin family to Ireland

Some of the Erwin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Erwin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Erwin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Georg Erwin, who landed in Virginia in 1640 2
Mary Erwin, who landed in Maryland in 1673 2

Erwin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Erwin, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1720 2
Nathaniel Erwin, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 2
Joseph Erwin, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 2
William Erwin, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 2
William Erwin, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Erwin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jared Erwin, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
Charles Erwin, who arrived in South Carolina in 1814 2
James Erwin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Mr. Erwin, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1821 2
Thomas Erwin, who arrived in New York in 1824 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Erwin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Erwin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Eli Erwin, who arrived in Canada in 1829
John Erwin, who landed in Canada in 1830
Francis Erwin, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Daniel O'Connell" in 1834
Mr. Andrew Erwin, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Elizabeth" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 3
Eliza Erwin, aged 33 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Limerick, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Erwin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Erwin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Maria Erwin, (Kelly), Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4

Erwin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Erwin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary Erwin, aged 25, a dairymaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Erwin (post 1700) +

Steve Erwin (1960-2023), American comics artist best known as the co-creator of Checkmate and Gunfire
William Lindsey "Bill" Erwin (1914-2010), American Primetime Emmy Award nominated film, stage and television actor with over 250 television and film credits
Lee Erwin (d. 1972), American television writer
Ross Emil "Tex" Erwin (1885-1963), American Major League Baseball catcher
Richard Cannon Erwin (1923-2006), American jurist and politician
John Lee Erwin (b. 1936), American voice actor known for voicing Morris the Cat
Mike Erwin (b. 1978), American actor, best known for his role as Colin Hart in the television series Everwood
Stuart Erwin (1903-1967), American Academy Award nominated actor for his supporting role in Pigskin Parade (1936)
Terry L. Erwin (b. 1940), American entomologist with the Smithsonian Institution
Staff Sergeant Henry E Erwin, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Erwin family +

SS Atlantic

Mr. Erwin, (Irwin), infant, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mrs. Elizabeth Erwin, (Irwin), who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Walton Aluard Erwin, American Seaman First Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 5
Mr. Stanley Joe Erwin, American Machinist's Mate First Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 5

The Erwin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit
Motto Translation: No one provokes me with impunity.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 27)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html