The Ervin Crest that appears on our Home page and above came from a plaque that hung on my family room wall when I was a child. And as Dennis points out does not accurately represent the "true" Coat of Arms associated with Scottish Ervin (Irvine) Clan crest, which is true. I believe that this plaque was a gift to our family at some point as the text that goes with it is very broad in nature.

This writing says this:

" The Ervin Coat of Arms illustrated left was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Ervin Coat of Arms design can be found in Rietstap Armorial General. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms. In their language, the Arms (shield) is as follows: "De gu. a la fasce ondee d'arg."

When translated the blazon also describes the orginal colors of the Ervin Arms as it appeared centuries ago.

Family mottos are believed to have orginated as battle cries in medieval times. A Motto was not recorded with this Ervin Coat of Arms.

Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were occupation, location, father's name, or personal characteristics. The surname Ervin appears to be patronymical in origin, and is believed to be associated with the English and German, meaning, "descendant of Erwinne or Eorwine (sea, friend)."

Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurence. Dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spelling variations of Ervin to be Erven, Erwin, and Ervand. Although bearer's of the old and distinguished Ervin name comprise a small fraction of the population there are a number who have established for it a significant place in history. They include:

John ERVIN (Erwin) (1244-1318) German architect, engaged (with his son, namesake, and successor, JOHN ERWIN) in construction of part of Strasbourg Cathedral (1277-1339).

George William ERVIN (Erving) (1769-1850) Diplomat. Agent for claims and appeals of American seaman, London, England. U.S. Minister to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1811, and U.S. Minister to Spain, and largely responsible for the Florida Boundary Treaty with Spain.

James ERVIN (1778-1841) Congressman. Admitted to the Bar in 1800, Pedee, South Carolina. Member of Representatives (1800-1804); Solicitor for the Northern Judicial Circuit; Judge (1804-1816); and, a Senator between 1826 and 1829.

William Gage ERVIN (Erving) (1877-1923) Surgeon. Professor of orthopedic surgery for Harvard University, and orthopedic surgeon to Providence Children's Georgetown University Hospital.

Robert Gallaudet ERVIN (d. 1906) Railway official and lawyer. President of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. President of the Winston and Bone Valley Railway Company, and Director of the Louisville and Nashville Railway Company.

Lee ERVIN (Erwin) (b.1908) Composer in Huntsville, Alabama. Composer of "Mighty Navy Wings", "Mariner's Song", and "Hello, Sunshine."

No genealogical representation is intended or implied by this report and it does not represent individual lineage or family tree."