Kerwan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Many variations of the name Kerwan have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Ciardhubhain, which is derived from the words "ciar" and "dubh," both of which mean "black." 1

Early Origins of the Kerwan family

The surname Kerwan was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island. The family of ancient Irish extraction have been seated at Blindwell in County Galway from time immemorial. 2

Early History of the Kerwan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerwan research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1530, 1531, 1534, 1535, 1550, 1551, 1589, 1602, 1642, 1650, 1653, 1661, 1686, 1688 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Kerwan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerwan Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Kerwan that are preserved in archival documents are Kirwan, O'Kirwan, Kerovan, Kyrvan, O'Quirivan, Kirwin, Kerwin, Kerwan and many more.

Early Notables of the Kerwan family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was John Óge Kirwan, Mayor of Galway (1530-1531); Thomas Kirwan, Mayor of Galway (1534-1535); Richard Kirwan, Mayor of Galway (1550-1551); Stephen Kirwan (d. 1602), an Irish prelate, Bishop of Clonfert; Reverend Francis Kirwan (1589-1661), Bishop of Killala, but was later exiled...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kerwan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerwan migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Kerwan to North America:

Kerwan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Kerwan, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 3
Henry Kerwan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 3
J. M. Maitland Kerwan, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1895
N. Kerwan, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1895
Pat. Kerwan, aged 34, who landed in America, in 1896
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerwan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Katie Kerwan, aged 26, who landed in America from County Waterford, Ireland in 1900
Roseanna Kerwan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from County Waterford, Ireland in 1905
Lucretia Kerwan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Dublin, Ireland, in 1906
Mary Kerwan, aged 56, who landed in America from Kilkee, Ireland, in 1907
John Kerwan, aged 37, who landed in America from Swenton, Ireland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerwan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kerwan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine Kerwan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1828

Kerwan Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

John Kerwan, aged 32, who settled in St John's, Newfoundland, in 1920

The Kerwan 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: Mon Dieu, mon Roi, et ma patrie
Motto Translation: Mon Dieu, mon Roi, et ma patrie.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)