Erwin Last Name: Meaning and Heraldic Roots

Ask a genealogist about Erwin and the first name they will mention is Irwin. Its meaning, shared with Irwin, is “From Irvine, or boar-friend”. The two spellings differ in a small detail: Erwin has “e” where Irwin has “i”. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. Other spellings include Irwine.

According to the 2010 US Census, the Erwin surname had 22,496 bearers.

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Irwin surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon. Want more than a summary? See the Erwin family name pack.