Kirkoswald (Scots: Kirkossald)^[1] is a village and parish in the Carrick district of Ayrshire, Scotland, 1+3⁄4 miles (3 kilometres) from the coast and four miles (six kilometres) southwest of Maybole. It takes its name from its kirk (church), dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria, who is said to have won a battle here in the 7th century. The old church, which was built in 1244 and houses the baptismal font of Robert the Bruce, is now a ruin in the grounds of the modern church, which was built in 1777 to a design by Robert Adam. Kirkoswald is also noted for its connection with Robert Burns, whose maternal ancestors, the Brouns, were from the village. Burns also attended school here, and would later base the characters Tam o' Shanter, Kirkton Jean and souter Johnnie on village locals Douglas Graham, Jean Aird and John Davidson, the shoemaker.

Kirkoswald Scots: Kirkossald
The Main Street
Kirkoswald Location within South Ayrshire
Population	194
OS grid reference	NS240075
Council area	South Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire and Arran
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MAYBOLE
Postcode district	KA19
Dialling code	01655
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish Parliament	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
List of places UK Scotland 55°19′48″N 4°46′00″W / 55.33000°N 4.76667°W / 55.33000; -4.76667

Kirkoswald village had a population of 194 in 1991. Kirkoswald parish is 23.3 square miles (60 square kilometres) in area, and also contains the coastal village of Maidens. Landmarks include Turnberry Castle, the ancient seat of the Earls of Carrick, Culzean Castle, Thomaston Castle and Crossraguel Abbey.

Rev Robert Hunter Arbuckle was minister of the Free Church from 1860 and 1897.^[2]