Kirwan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Kirwan family in North America:

Kirwan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William Denbow Kirwan, who arrived in New York in 1812 4
• Elizabeth, Maria, Michael, and Thomas Kirwan, all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1844
• Mary Kirwan, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1849 4
• Michael Kirwan, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1855 4
• David Kirwan, aged 29, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1872 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kirwan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Joanna Hemming Kirwan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
• Margaret Kirwan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1838
• Margaret Kirwan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1840
• Bridget Kirwan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1841

Kirwan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr.John Kirwan, (b. 1802), aged 17, Irish iron founder who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 5
• Mrs. Ann Kirwan who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 20th November 1823, arriving in New South Wales, Australia and Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• Mr. James Kirwan, (b. 1804), aged 22, Irish servant who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyne" on 28th October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1852 7
• Mr. William Kirwan, (Kerwan, Kerwin), (b. 1823), aged 21, Irish farmer servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
• Miss Elizabeth Kirwan who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 25th October 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kirwan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• John S. Kirwan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harkaway" in 1858 10
• Ann Kirwan, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 11
• Mary Kirwan, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 11

• William English "Brit" Kirwan (b. 1938), American academic, the 3rd Chancellor of the University System of Maryland
• Michael Joseph Kirwan (1886-1970), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1937-1970)
• Thomas Kirwan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly 96th District, 1995- 12
• Michael Joseph Kirwan (1886-1970), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 19th District, 1937-70 12
• Michael Kirwan, American politician, Circuit Judge in Wisconsin 4th Circuit, 1899-1903 12
• Laurence J. Kirwan (1942-2002), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1980, 1984 (alternate), 1988 (delegation chair); New York Democratic State Chair, 1984-89 12
• John R. Kirwan, American politician, Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1975-85 12
• John Kirwan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 10th District, 1959 12
• H. Raymond Kirwan, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1960 12
• Dan H. Kirwan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1924 12
• ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)