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Kirwan Family History

Kirwan Surname Meaning

Irish (Galway): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ciardhubháin ‘descendant of Ciardhubhán’ a personal name based on ciar ‘dark’ + dubh ‘black’ + the diminutive suffix -an.

This name and its variants are also found in Lancashire England (see Kirvan Kirven Kirvin Kirwin).

Compare Carawan.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kirwan family from?

You can see how Kirwan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kirwan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kirwan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 91 Kirwan families living in Lancashire. This was about 54% of all the recorded Kirwan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kirwan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kirwan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kirwan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kirwan. 27% of Kirwan men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Kirwan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kirwan were Boot Repairer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Kirwan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    27%
  • Builders Labourer
    17%
  • Medical Practitioner
    10%
  • Boot Repairer
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    4%

What Kirwan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Kirwan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kirwan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kirwan

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Kirwan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kirwan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Kirwan. For the veterans among your Kirwan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kirwan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kirwan family history

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What is the average Kirwan lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Kirwan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Kirwan in 1953 was 47, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kirwan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kirwan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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