Kirwan

(Kerwin, Kirwen, Kirwin, Kirivan, Kierevan, Kiervan, Kirovani, Kyrewain, Kerovan, Kyrvan, Kyrwan, O'Kirwan, O'Kerevan, O'Kerrywane)

The Kirwans are the descendants of the Gaelic Irish sept of Ciardhubhain who were originally found in County Louth. The name was established in Galway, where they became one of the celebrated "Fourteen Tribes of Galway". The word Ciardhubhain is composed of the elements ciar = dark + dubh = black + the diminutive suffix -an. This surname commonly described the swarthy man, or black-haired man. "Ó Ciardhubhain" means "Descendant of Ciardhubhan".

When the name was Anglicized it took a number of versions, with the spelling of the name being widely varied because it was not Anglo to begin with. While Kirwan is the most commonly found, these also derived from Ó Ciardhubhain: Kerwin, Kirwen, Kirwin, Kirivan, Kierevan, Kiervan, Kirovani, Kyrewain, Kerovan, Kyrvan, Kyrwan, O'Kirwan, O'Kerevan, O'Kerrywane.

ARMS: Argent, a chevron sable between three Cornish choughs proper.

FAMILY MOTTO: MON DIEU, MON ROI ET MA PATRIA (French) - meaning "For my God, my King and my Country".