Contents [hide]

Irving History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Irving 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 Irving, 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 Irving family

The surname Irving 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 Irving family

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

Irving Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Irving family

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

Irving World Ranking

In the United States, the name Irving is the 1,895^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Irving is ranked the 856^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,626 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Irving is the 591^st popular surname with an estimated 1,214 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks Irving as 672^nd with 9,820 people. 4

Migration of the Irving family to Ireland

Some of the Irving 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.

Irving migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Irving Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Irving, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 5
William Irving, who arrived in New York in 1763 5
Winifred Irving, who arrived in South Carolina in 1773 5

Irving Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John B Irving, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1823 5
Richard Irving, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1837 5
Robert Irving, aged 35, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 5
Joseph B Irving, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
Edward Irving, who arrived in Mississippi in 1851 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irving migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Irving Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Irving, aged 52, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
Molly Irving, aged 48, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
Mary Irving, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
Margaret Irving, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
Martha Irving, aged 9, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irving migration to Australia +

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

Irving Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Matthew Irving, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Thomas Irving, English convict who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for life, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Irving who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 21 years, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 8
Miss. Mary Irving, (Spalding), Scottish convict who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Thomas Irving, aged 30, a shepherd, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Chatham" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irving 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:

Irving Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Irving, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
Mrs. Elizabeth Irving, (b. 1816), aged 43, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Anne" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th August 1859 11
Miss Helen Agnes Irving, (b. 1847), aged 12, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Anne" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th August 1859 11
Miss Georgina Janet Irving, (b. 1849), aged 10, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Anne" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th August 1859 11
Henry H. Irving, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Persia" in 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irving Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

David Irving, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Laurence Irving, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Malcolm Irving, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Jemima Irving, aged 8, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Marion Irving, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Irving (post 1700) +

Washington Irving (1783-1859), American author, best known for his short stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip van Winkle"
Kenneth Colin "K.C." Irving OC, ONB (1899-1992), Canadian industrialist who in 1989 became one of the world's fourteen richest men according to Forbes Magazine
Blake Irving, American Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of the GoDaddy group of companies
Major-General Frederick Augustus Irving (1894-1995), American Superintendent of US Military Academy West Point (1951-1954) 12
James Irving, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 16th District, 1867-71 13
Henry J. Irving, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 7th District, 1857 13
Helen M. Irving (b. 1931), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972, 1980; Member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1973-77 13
Frederick Irving (b. 1921), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Iceland, 1972; Jamaica, 1977-78 13
Emma L. Irving, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from West Virginia, 1924 13
Don Irving (b. 1898), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 20th District, 1944, 1946; Chair of Pike County Democratic Party, 1949-65 13
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Irving family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Laurence Brodribb Irving (1871-1914), English First Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom travelling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 14
Mrs. Mabel Irving (1880-1914), née Hackney English First Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom travelling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 14

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Lillian Irving (1871-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15

HMS Dorsetshire

Thomas Andrew Irving (d. 1945), British Leading Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 16

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. James Chalmers Irving, English, Able Seaman from Urmston, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 17

The Irving 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/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHATHAM 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/chatham1852.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Frederick Irving. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Irving/Frederick_Augustus/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html