Irwin

This interesting surname can be of either English, Scottish or Irish origins, although all are quite different. Firstly, it may originate from the Middle English personal name Irwyn, Erwyn and Everwyn, from the old English pre 7th century personal name "Eoforwine". This is composed of the elements "eofor" meaning wild boar plus "wine", a friend. As such it is recorded in the Domesday Book for the county of Norfolk in 1086. The second source is Scottish, and locational originating from the town of Irvine in Strathclyde or from a Celtic river name, with the component elements being "ir" or "yr" meaning fresh plus "afon", water. The third source is Irish and a developed form of the Gaelic O' hEireamhoin. This translates as the male descendant of Eireamhan, the latter being an ancient personal name of uncertain origin. Early examples of the surname recordings include Eustace Everwyn, in the calendar of Letter Books for the county of Devonshire, England, in the year 1310, whilst William de Irwyne is recorded as being the Clerk of the Register, in Drum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1324. In the modern idiom, the surname has many variant spellings including Everwin, Irwine, Irwing, Urwin, Irvine, and Erwin. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Hierwyn, and dated 1226, at Dumfriesshire, Scotland. This was during the reign of King Alexander 11 of Scotland, 1214 - 1249. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.