Kirkwood

Kirkwood
This is an Olde Scottish locational surname. It originates from one of the places called "Kirkwood" in the former counties of Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire. All share the same meaning and derivation which is from the Gaelic-Old English word "Kirk", meaning "church", itself derived from the Olde Norse "Kirkja", plus the Middle English suffix "wode", and the Olde English pre 7th "wudu". The placename thus translates as "the church in the wood" or possibly the wood owned by the church. The area which now forms much of the modern county of Strathclyde was the first part of Scotland to be under English influence, and seemingly English sounding place names, and hence surnames, have a degree of popularity. Early examples of the Kirkwood surname recordings include Alexander Kirkwod, according to the ancient rolls 'a follower of the Earl of Cassilis', who was acquitted of a murder charge in 1526! Quite what he had been upto is not clear, but it seems that his masters influence helped his cause. A more notable bearer of the surname was James Pugh Kirkwood, born in Edinburgh in 1807. He emigrated to America in 1830 having trained as an engineer, and achieved fame as the builder of the New York and Cleveland water-works. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Kirkwood, which was dated 1476, in the registers of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, during the reign of King James III of Scotland, 1460 - 1488. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Kirkwood — is the name of some places in the United States of America: *Kirkwood, California **Kirkwood Mountain Resort *Kirkwood, Delaware *Kirkwood (Atlanta), Georgia *Kirkwood, Illinois *Kirkwood, Missouri *Kirkwood, New Jersey *Kirkwood, New York… …   Wikipedia

  • Kirkwood — bezeichnet Personen und Orte: Personen Archy Kirkwood, Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope (* 1946), britischer Politiker Carly Kirkwood, neuseeländische Journalistin und Fernsehmoderatorin Cris Kirkwood (* 1960), US amerikanischer Bassist der Meat… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kirkwood — Kirkwood, MO U.S. city in Missouri Population (2000): 27324 Housing Units (2000): 12306 Land area (2000): 9.226960 sq. miles (23.897716 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.049026 sq. miles (0.126978 sq. km) Total area (2000): 9.275986 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Kirkwood 4A — (Тредбо,Австралия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Valley Close, Woodridge, 2625 Тредбо, Австра …   Каталог отелей

  • Kirkwood, CA — U.S. Census Designated Place in California Population (2000): 96 Housing Units (2000): 82 Land area (2000): 2.207361 sq. miles (5.717039 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.948963 sq. miles (2.457803 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.156324 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Kirkwood, IL — U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 794 Housing Units (2000): 322 Land area (2000): 0.908742 sq. miles (2.353630 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.908742 sq. miles (2.353630 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Kirkwood, MO — U.S. city in Missouri Population (2000): 27324 Housing Units (2000): 12306 Land area (2000): 9.226960 sq. miles (23.897716 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.049026 sq. miles (0.126978 sq. km) Total area (2000): 9.275986 sq. miles (24.024694 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Kirkwood — (spr. Kirkwud), 1) Postort in der Grafschaft Broome des Staates New York (Nordamerika), an der New York Erie Eisenbahn, Geburtsort von Joseph Smith, Stifter der Mormonen; 2) Städtischer Bezirk (Township) in der Grafschaft Belmont des Staates… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Kirkwood — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Kirkwood peut faire référence à : Sommaire 1 Toponymes 1.1 Afrique du Sud …   Wikipédia en Français

  • KIRKWOOD — UNITED KINGDOM (see also List of Individuals) 27.3.1807 Edinburgh/UK 22.4.1877 Brooklyn NY/USA James Pugh Kirkwood was apprenticed at the age of 14 to a land surveyor and later became acquainted with engineering. He sailed in 1832 to America and… …   Hydraulicians in Europe 1800-2000

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