Meaning and origin
The last name Erwin has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language. Derived from the name Eirinn, meaning "Ireland," it most likely originated as an ethnic identifier for someone of Irish descent. The name Erwin evolved over time and eventually took on variations such as Irvin, Irvine, and Irving, which have been documented in early medieval records.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,594
Erwin was the 1,594th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 22,496 people, about 7.3 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Where it is found
Countries linked to Erwin.
Surnames like Erwin
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Erwin is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.