Scottish history reveals Irwyn was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in the parish of
Irving in the county of
Dumfriesshire or from
Irvine in Strathclyde. The names have become indistinguishable over time.
Early Origins of the Irwyn family
The surname Irwyn was first found in
Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on
England that today forms part of the Dumfries and
Galloway Council Area. According to family lore, they descend from Duncan "the first of Eryvine," killed at the battle of Duncrub in 965. As far as records are concerned, the earliest listed was William de Irwin, an armor bearer to King Robert the Bruce. He received a grant of lands encompassing the Forest of Drum, on the banks of the River Irvine. And it was here that he had Drum Castle built which would become the
family seat of the
Clan for centuries. The river originally was named Lar Avon, or West River. Robert de Hirvine, ancestor of that previous William was mentioned in a Charter dated 1226 and he was at that time
tenant of the Douglas
Clan. From 1331-33 the family received further grants of land and by 1400 had become a very predominant family. The Chief of the Irvines lead his Clansmen in the Battle of Harlaw in 1511. Sir Alexander Irvine was slain there, and it was said of him: 'Gude Sir Alexander Irvine, The much renowned Laird of Drum.'
Early History of the Irwyn family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Irwyn research.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1376, 1323, 1976, 1411 and are included under the topic Early Irwyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Irwyn Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different
spelling variations. Irwyn has been spelled Irwin, Erwin, Irvine, Irving, Urwin, Erwine, Ervin, Erwing, Ervynn, Ervine, Erwynn, Irwing, Irwryn and many more.
Early Notables of the Irwyn family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Irwyn Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Irwyn family to Ireland
Some of the Irwyn family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 144 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Irwyn family to the New World and Oceana
Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American
War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:
Irwyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- George Irwyn, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Contemporary Notables of the name Irwyn (post 1700)
- Grant Irwyn, Australian scratch race cyclist at the 2006 Australian National Track Championships
The Irwyn 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: Candide et constanter
Motto Translation: Fairly and firmly.
Irwyn Family Crest Products
See Also
Citations
- ^ 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)