Kerwen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Kerwen

What does the name Kerwen mean?

Kerwen is a name whose roots are found in the clans of the Boernician people of ancient Scotland. The Kerwen family lived in Cumberland, where it was originally associated with Culwen. Culwen or Culewen is the old spelling of Colvend which was located near the river Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Early Origins of the Kerwen family

The surname Kerwen was first found in Northumberland, 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 Kerwen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerwen research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1379, 1554, 1558, 1559, 1567, 1571, 1621 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Kerwen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerwen Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages simply spelled according to sound. The result is an enormous number of spelling variations among names that evolved in that era. Kerwen has been spelled Curwen, Curwens, Corwen, Corwyn, Curwyn, Curwin, Curvin, Corwin, Kerwen, Kerwin, Kerwyn, Kervin and many more.

Early Notables of the Kerwen family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kerwen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerwen migration to the United States +

Most of the Boernician-Scottish families who came to North America settled on the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States and Canada. Families who wanted a new order stayed south in the War of Independence, while those who were still loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, the ancestors of these families have gone on to rediscover their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Kerwen or a variant listed above:

Kerwen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Kerwen, who settled in Philadelphia in 1867

The Kerwen 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: Si je n'estoy
Motto Translation: If I were not.