| ![Show Contents]() Kirkwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland Early Origins of the Kirkwood familyThe surname Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkwood research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1526, 1650, 1698, 1708 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kirkwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kirkwood Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Kirkwood, Kirkward and others. Early Notables of the Kirkwood familyNotable amongst the family at this time was - James Kirkwood (1650-1708), Scottish advocate of parochial libraries from Dunbar
Kirkwood RankingIn the United States, the name Kirkwood is the 3,780th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Kirkwood family to Ireland
Some of the Kirkwood 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.
| Kirkwood migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Kirkwood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- James Kirkwood who settled in New Jersey in 1685 with Elizabeth
Kirkwood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- William Kirkwood, who settled in Boston in 1716
- Captain James Kirkwood, who settled in Boston in 1758
Kirkwood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Robert and Thomas Kirkwood, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1846
Kirkwood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Benj Kirkwood, aged 21, who settled in America from Glasgow, in 1900
- Abraham Kirkwood, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1907
- Christina Kirkwood, aged 31, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1907
- Christine Kirkwood, aged 26, who immigrated to America from Greenock, Scotland, in 1907
- Archibald Kirkwood, aged 31, who settled in America from Banknoch, Scotland, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Kirkwood migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kirkwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. John Kirkwood, (b. 1801), aged 22, Irish butcher who was convicted in Antrim, Northern Ireland for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 28th September 1823, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1847 2
- Mr. Henry Charles Kirkwood (b. 1803), aged 31, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 15th May 1834, sentenced for 7 years for stealing from Valentine Messoleana Santos, transported aboard the ship "Henry Porcher" on 4th September 1834 to New South Wales, Australia 3
- Mr. Henry Charles Kirkwood, Cornish surgeon who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Portter" in 1835 convicted at Sydney Gaol on 2nd June 1837 4
- Miss Mary Kirkwood who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 25th October 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- William Kirkwood, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Anglia" 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Kirkwood 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: Kirkwood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- George Kirkwood, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
- J. Kirkwood, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1861 7
- Marion Kirkwood, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
- Mr. Archibald Kirkwood, (b. 1864), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 8
- Mrs. Mary A. Kirkwood, (b. 1832), aged 32, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kirkwood (post 1700) | + |
- James Kirkwood Jr. (1924-1989), American playwright, author and actor, recipient of the Tony award, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the Broadway hit A Chorus Line in 1976
- John "Jack" Gamble Kirkwood (1907-1959), American chemist and physicist, recipient of the 1936 Langmuir Award, eponym of the Kirkwood approximation
- James Kirkwood (1875-1963), American actor, director, and writer
- Daniel Kirkwood (1814-1895), American astronomer who studied the orbits of asteroids, eponym of the Kirkwood gap
- Samuel Jordan Kirkwood (1813-1894), American politician, Governor of Iowa during the US Civil War, 14th United States Secretary of the Interior (1881-1882)
- Curt Kirkwood (b. 1959), American singer, guitarist and songwriter
- Phillip L. Kirkwood, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories
- John Kirkwood (1842-1893), American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Cass County, 1893 9
- Inez Kirkwood, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Fayette County Democratic Party, 1983 9
- Eric Kirkwood, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1988 9
- ... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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.
| Suggested Readings for the name Kirkwood | + |
- Kirkwoods, and their Kin by Anna Lee Kirkwood Smith.
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Kirkwood migration to the United States 
Kirkwood migration to Australia 
Kirkwood migration to New Zealand 
