Show ContentsKerwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kerwood family

The surname Kerwood was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Kerwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerwood research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1526, 1650, 1698, 1708 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kerwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerwood Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kirkwood, Kirkward and others.

Early Notables of the Kerwood family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kerwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Kerwood family to Ireland

Some of the Kerwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Kerwood migration to Australia +

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

Kerwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George James Kerwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 1
  • Maria Kerwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 1
  • Richard Kerwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 1
  • Ann Maria Kerwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 1
  • Sarah Sabina Kerwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Kerwood (post 1700) +

  • John Kenna Kerwood, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1928 2
  • Asbury L. Kerwood (1842-1914), American politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1899 2
  • Mr. Ian Daniel Kerwood M.B.E., British parish councillor, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Sports Shooting and to charity 3
  • Charlotte Kerwood (b. 1986), British sports shooter at the 2012 Summer Olympics


The Kerwood 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: Spes mea in Deo
Motto Translation: My hope is in God.


  1. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MORLEY 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Morley.htm
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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