Kirwan - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Ciardhubháin
Meaning: “jet black”
Traditional stronghold: Galway
One of the Tribes of Galway.
Pronunciation: KUR-wan; Irish Ó Ciardhubháin: oh KEER-oo-awn
History of the Kirwan name
Ó Ciardhubháin combines ciar and dubh, two words for black or dark, and the Kirwans hold a special distinction: of the fourteen Tribes of Galway, the merchant families who ruled that city for centuries, they were the only one of native Gaelic origin, the rest being Norman or English. The family prospered mightily in trade with Spain and France, acquired estates across County Galway such as Cregg Castle, and produced scholars, churchmen and wine merchants whose name survives in the Kirwan vineyards of Bordeaux, where Château Kirwan still bears it. The name remains strongly associated with Galway city and county.
Variants: Kirwin · Kerwin · Kirwen
Famous bearers of the name
- Richard Kirwan - Galway chemist, geologist and president of the Royal Irish Academy, one of the most famous scientists of his day.
- Larry Kirwan - Wexford-born writer and musician, leader of the New York Irish rock band Black 47.
- Danny Kirwan - London-born guitarist with the classic line-up of Fleetwood Mac.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · Lynch · Connolly · Burke · Clarke · Hughes · Keane · Kenny