The Irwin surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 34,297 people carried this name — #1,019 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,600 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (34,374).

See Irwin on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Irwin surname

A Scottish or Irish surname originating as a patronymic.

From a medieval given name Erwin, from Eoforwine, from Old English eofor (“boar”) + wine (“friend”), the latter of which is from Proto-West Germanic *wini.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Irwin» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 118 births for the Irwin name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 5,200 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Armagh, Antrim, Tyrone, and Londonderry.”

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 96
Munster 12
Connacht 7
Leinster 3

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

31 people named Irwin is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 31

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

Irwin was recorded 16 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1361st most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 30. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

294 families named Irwin, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,595 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Irwin, Ervan, Erven, Ervewin, Ervin, Ervine, Erving, Ervwin, Ervwn, Erwin, Erwine, Erwinn, Erwyn, Irven, Irvin, Irvine, Irving, Irwen, Irwin, Irwine, Urvin. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 147
North Carolina 60
South Carolina 26
Virginia 17
New York 16
Maryland 11
Massachusetts 7
Vermont 4
New Hampshire 2
Connecticut 2
Maine 1
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 247 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Irwin in American newspapers,
1914.

Newspaper page from Yellowstone Monitor carrying the name Irwin
Yellowstone Monitor 1914-04-23
Newspaper page from The Poplar Standard carrying the name Irwin
The Poplar Standard 1914-03-19
Newspaper page from The Enterprise carrying the name Irwin
The Enterprise 1914-05-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 16,001 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Irwin in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

86,216 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Irwin. The most, 15,815, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 29,876
Victoria 20,765
Queensland 17,926
South Australia 8,153
Western Australia 6,022
Tasmania 2,550
ACT (Canberra) 600
Northern Territory 55

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Irwin.

Who carried it

People named Irwin,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Alexander Irwin d. 1752 · military officer
  • Alexander Irwin d. 1779 · Catholic priest
  • Alexander Burrowes Irwin d. 1806 · plantation owner
  • Henry Irwin d. 1880
  • Charlotte Martha Irwin d. 1863
  • Caroline Elizabeth Irwin d. 1889

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Irwin,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States5,237 records

5,237 records of the Irwin name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,352
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,334
  • Other U.S. records 2,551
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Van Allen Irwin

    Born 1937; from Northridge, California. U.S. Army, indirect fire infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Maude H. Irwin

    Born 1906 in Kentucky. Enlisted 1946 in the Women's Army Corps at Fort Knox; housekeeper. U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II; died 1966, buried at Lebanon National Cemetery, Kentucky.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Irwin

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow, aged 17; servant. From Derry, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 5,237 records for Irwin in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia2,031 records

2,031 records of the Irwin name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 888
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 390
  • Other Australian records 753
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Ann Irwin

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the John Calvin, sailing from London in 1848. Native of Sligo. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849. Married 1849 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Offley Irwin

    Died 1879 in Westbury, Tasmania, aged 63. Will registered in Tasmania in 1879.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Henry Irwin

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Hannibal, aged 21; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,031 records for Irwin in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada391 records

391 records of the Irwin name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 172
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 58
  • Other Canadian records 161
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robt Irwin

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Scandinavian, landing at Portland, bound for Guelph, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Gordon Irwin

    Buried in 1975 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 55.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Maude Louise Irwin

    Died 1943 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 391 records for Irwin in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands50 records

50 records of the Irwin name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 45
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Marie Irwin

    In the population register of Capelle; labourer, born 1775 in Capelle.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Langstraat Heusden Altena (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johannes Irwin

    Married in 1754 in Grave; born in Almkerk.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Rebecca Irwin

    Died 1893 in Rotterdam, aged 57.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 50 records for Irwin in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand49 records

49 records of the Irwin name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 34
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 14
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Patrick Irwin

    Died 1951, aged 89; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Irwin

    Buried in 1890 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 32.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Gilmour Irwin

    Died 1937, aged 51; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 49 records for Irwin in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom27 records

27 records of the Irwin name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 17
  • Stirling Council burial records 4
  • Other British records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Loue Anne Irwin

    Died 1977, aged 70; buried at Drymen Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert Edward Irwin

    Will proved in 1940; of Rhosneigr, Anglesey.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ann Irwin

    Buried in 1828 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 45.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 27 records for Irwin in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Ireland9 records

9 records of the Irwin name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Florence Irwin

    Died 1957, aged 81; buried at St Thomas, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emily Irwin

    Died 1928, aged 82; buried at St Thomas, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Irwin in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Irwin name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Michael David Irwin

    Born 1932 in Great Britain; died 1998 in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Irwin.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Irwin is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Irwin volume
Scroll to Top