506 Global GIRVAN Family Members

GIRVAN Family History

Recorded as Girvan, Girvin, and perhaps Girvane although this is believed to be extinct, this is a quite rare Scottish surname. It is locational, which in itself is unusual, as the majority of both Scottish and Irish surname are patronymic, and originates from the town and parish of Girvan in the county of Ayrshire. Locational surnames by their nature are usually "from" names. That is to say names given to people after they had left their original homes to move elsewhere. It was and to some extent it still remains, that one of the easiest ways to identify a stranger was to call him, or sometimes her, by the name of the place from whence they came.