Irwin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland
England

Etymology of Irwin

What does the name Irwin mean?

Irwin was first used as a surname in the Scottish/English Borderlands by the Strathclyde-Briton. The first Irwin family lived in the parish of Irving in the county of Dumfriesshire or from Irvine in Strathclyde. There are a variety of possible origins of the name and we will explore some of them here. One source claims the name was a "descendant of Erewine (sea friend); or one who came from Irvine (green river), in Ayrshire. " 1

Another source postulates the name was from "Mac Heremon, 'Here-mon's Son.' Heremon was the seventh in descent from Milesius, and became monarch of all Ireland. 2 And another believes that Irwin was "the Irish form of Irvine. The singular Christian name Crinus, which prevails in the family of I. of Tanragoe, co. Sligo, is traditionally derived from Krynin Abethnas, the second husband of the mother of Duncan, King of Scotland." 3

Early Origins of the Irwin family

The surname Irwin was first found in Ayrshire, at Irvine, a parish, in the district of Cunninghame, about 26 miles (W. S. W.) from Glasgow. "[Irvine] derives its name from the river on which it is situated, and appears to have attained a high degree of importance at a very early period. The inhabitants obtained from Alexander II. a charter conferring upon the town all the privileges of a royal burgh; and a charter confirming all previous grants was subsequently given to them by Robert Bruce, in recompense of their services during his wars with England in the reign of Edward I." 4

Alternatively, the name was "from Irving, the name of an old parish in Dumfriesshire, There are many Irvings (or Irvines as most of the Dumfriesshire families spell the name) here." 5

According to voice of tradition, the family descend from Duncan "the first of Eryvine," killed at the battle of Duncrub in 965. Other records show 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.' 5

"Washington Irving (1783-1859), the American author, was son of William Irving, a native of Shapinsay, Orkney." 5

Early History of the Irwin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Irwin research. Another 263 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1323, 1324, 1331, 1332, 1376, 1411, 1455, 1587, 1602, 1638, 1658, 1685, 1689, 1752, 1759, 1762, 1763, 1769, 1890 and 1976 are included under the topic Early Irwin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Irwin Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Irwin has been spelled Irwin, Erwin, Irvine, Irving, Urwin, Erwine, Ervin, Erwing, Ervynn, Ervine, Erwynn, Irwing, Irwryn and many more.

Early Notables of the Irwin family

Adam Irvine, Burgess of Irvine in 1455, doubtless derived his surname from Aberdeenshire. Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum (d. 1658), the Royalist, "was descended from William de Irvine, who was armour-bearer to Robert Bruce, and was rewarded for his devoted services by a grant of the forest of Drum, Aberdeenshire, at that time part of a royal forest. A grandson of William de Irvine (Sir Alexander) distinguished himself at the battle of Harlaw (1411), in a...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Irwin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Irwin World Ranking

In the United Kingdom, the name Irwin is the 872^nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,833 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Irwin is ranked the 473^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,957 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Irwin is the 407^th popular surname with an estimated 1,614 people with that name. 8 Canada ranks Irwin as 622^nd with 8,280 people. 9 The United States ranks Irwin as 939^th with 32,331 people. 10

Migration of the Irwin family to Ireland

Some of the Irwin 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.

Irwin migration to Australia +

Irwin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Irwin, (b. 1769), aged 47, Scottish flax dresser who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Joseph Irwin, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Frederick Irwin, a wire-worker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mrs. Margaret Irwin, (b. 1784), aged 45, Irish house maid who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 4 children 13
Abraham Irwin, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Africaine" in 1836 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irwin 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:

Irwin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Arthur Irwin, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. William Irwin, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 15
Mrs. Sarah Irwin née Potterton, British settler travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 15
Miss Margaret Irwin, (b. 1830), aged 32, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 16
Mr. Robert Irwin, (b. 1838), aged 24, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irwin migration to Canada +

Irwin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Irwin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Irwin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Irwin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1827
William Irwin, aged 22, who landed in Quebec in 1835
Mr. Thomas Irwin, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 17
Mr. William Irwin, aged 23 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John & Robert" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 23rd August 1847 17

Irwin migration to the United States +

Irwin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Irwin, who settled in Virginia in 1642

Irwin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Irwin, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1712
Nathaniel Irwin, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 18
James Irwin, who settled in Antigua in 1774
John Irwin, who settled in Maryland in 1774
Boyle Irwin, who landed in America in 1798-1802 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irwin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Irwin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 18
Ann Irwin, aged 9, who arrived in Wiskasset (Wiscasset) in 1803 18
Mary Irwin, who settled in Wiscasset in 1803
Edward Irwin, aged 50, who arrived in Wiskasset (Wiscasset) in 1803 18
Patrick Irwin, aged 31, who arrived in Wiskasset (Wiscasset) in 1803 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Irwin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Richard Irwin, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Mississippi, USA 19
Mr. William Irwin, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Tougaloo, Mississippi, USA 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Irwin (post 1700) +

Cecil Irwin (1942-2025), English footballer who played as a right-back for Sunderland
Dona G. Irwin (1932-1933), American politician
Lauren Irwin (b. 1998), British rower, silver medalist at the European Championships, bronze medalist at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Robert Graham Irwin (1946-2024), British scholar and novelist, known for For Lust of Knowing: The Orientalists and Their Enemies, a critique of Edward Said's concept of "Orientalism"
Jonathan James Irwin (1973-2024), English television presenter, writer, lecturer, business and property expert
Jonathan Hiatt Nicolson Dermot Irwin (1941-2023), British-Irish bloodstock agent, auctioneer, stud owner, publisher, racetrack executive and charity founder, founder of the Jack and Jill Foundation with his wife Mary Ann O'Brien
Robert W. Irwin (1928-2023), American installation artist who explored perception and the conditional in art
Colin Lester Irwin (1951-2022), British music journalist, from Chertsey, Surrey
John Rice Irwin (1930-2022), American cultural historian, founder of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Irwin family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. William F Irwin, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20
George McFarlane Irwin (1949-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Argyll who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 21
Mr. Irwin, (Erwin), infant, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mrs. Elizabeth Irwin, (Erwin), who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
James Norman Irwin (1889-1917), Canadian butcher, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge February 1917

The Irwin 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.

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"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
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) AFRICAINE 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Africaine.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 35)
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/