Surname Kirkwood - Meaning and Origin

Uncovering the Roots: An iGENEA DNA Journey into the Scottish Heritage of the Kirkwood Surname

Discovering one’s heritage through a DNA test can serve as a poignant revelation. Upon receiving the results of my iGENEA DNA test, I was excited to learn more about my surname, Kirkwood. My journey into the deep past illuminated both the origin and history of Kirkwood—an exploration that has led me to a richer understanding of my Scottish roots.

F. Kirkwood

Kirkwood: What does the surname Kirkwood mean?

The surname Kirkwood is of Scottish origin and is derived from a place name. It has two main components: "Kirk", a Scottish and Northern English word which means 'church', taken from the Old Norse word 'kirkja'; and "Wood". Thus, Kirkwood can be interpreted to mean 'church in the woods' or 'church near the woods'. This gives an indication that the people originally bearing this name could have lived near or been associated with a church located near a wooded area. It is also known to be linked to numerous areas named Kirkwood across Scotland, including locations in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. The surname follows the tradition of using geographical identifiers to assign last names, a common practice in many cultures. Over the years, variations of the spelling have included Kirkwode, Kirkwoode, and Kirkewood. The earliest recorded instance of the name is of a William de Kirkwood in Ayrshire, dating back to the year 1204. Today, Kirkwood is a common family name in Scotland and in countries with Scottish diaspora like the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Kirkwood: Where does the name Kirkwood come from?

The surname Kirkwood is of Scottish origin, derived from a place name. Kirk' translates as 'church' in English, and 'Wood' refers to a woodland or forest. Hence, it signifies a church located in or near a wood or forest. The name is believed to have originated from East Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Kirkwood families were among the early settlers in the United States. Over time, this surname has spread in countries predominantly populated by people of Scottish descent. Today, the last name Kirkwood is most common in the United States, followed by Scotland, England, Canada, and Australia. In these countries, you can find substantial concentrations of individuals with the Kirkwood surname. However, it's worth mentioning that despite being spread across these countries, Kirkwood isn't considered a very common surname.

Variations of the surname Kirkwood

Kirkwood is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname originated from a place in Scotland known as Kirkwood in the historic area of Lanarkshire. There are several variants, alternate spellings, and cognates associated with this surname which include Kirkwode, Kirkwoode, Kirkewood, Kerkwood, Kerkwode, Kerckwood and Kirk-Wood due to regional dialects and pronunciation.

This surname can be split into two distinctive elements - "Kirk" which is derived from the Old Norse 'kirkja' meaning 'church', and "Wood" from the Old English 'wudu' denoting 'wood'. Hence, the surname may also have corresponding variants in other languages where words for church and wood are combined.

Surname derivatives from the female line or through marriage can potentially incorporate further variations and prefixes such as "de", "le" or “Mc/Mac” which are typical in Scottish and Irish surnames. Thus, names like Mckirkwood or MacKirkwood could also arise from the name.

Please note variations in spelling of surnames typically occurred due to an absence of spelling rules in early centuries, regional language variations, and alterations made over time, and as families migrated to new locations.

Famous people with the name Kirkwood

• Bess Kirkwood (American antislavery activist who taught freedmen how to survive and thrive)
• Chris Kirkwood (Canadian actor and playwright)
• Claire Kirkwood (British actress known for playing supporting and comedic roles on film and television)
• Dawson Kirkwood (American engineer and astrophysicist)
• Donald Kirkwood (British actor with appearances in Watch Dogs, Star Trek, and The Crown)
• Elvira Nibley Kirkwood (American pioneer and schoolteacher in the Utah Territory in the 1800s)
• Gabrielle Kirkwood (American figure skater who won various bronze and silver medals)
• Harold Kirkwood (American ornithology who wrote two books on birds of Oregon)
• Josh Kirkwood (English cricketer who plays for the training squad)
• Karen Kirkwood (Canadian swimmer who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics)
• Mabel Kirkwood (British nurse, missionary and philanthropist)
• Robin Kirkwood (British actor most known for his performance as Zorro in the 1989 TNT miniseries)
• Steve Kirkwood (American musician and producer, composer of the original score for the 2014 animated film ‘The Book of Life’)
• Stephanie Kirkwood (American exercise physiologist and fitness trainer)
• Tom Kirkwood (English evolutionary biologist and geneticist who authored several books on aging and longevity)

Other surnames

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