The Kirkwood Family History

What Does the Kirkwood Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Kirkwood is of Scottish and English origin, deriving from the Old English components ‘kirk’ and ‘wode,’ which translates to a church located within a wooded area. A notable variant of this surname is Kirkward. In England, individuals bearing the Kirkwood name predominantly inhabit the northern counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. Conversely, in Scotland, those with the Kirkwood surname are primarily found in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Dumfriesshire. In the United States, Kirkwood families mainly reside in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. Noteworthy individuals with this surname include James Pugh Kirkwood, an engineer for the New York and Cleveland water works during the mid-1800s; Joseph Henry Kirkwood, an Australian professional golfer; Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, who served as governor of Iowa during the Civil War; Dan Kirkwood, a professional footballer from Scotland; James Kirkwood, a writer and film actor; Jimmy Kirkwood, a professional field hockey player from Ireland; Curt Kirkwood, a songwriter and singer; and Daniel Kirkwood, a distinguished astronomer.