The village was first mentioned in the 11th century as Kiricwereve, and means "artificial height with church". Kerkwerve is a circular village around a church which developed during the Middle Ages.
The village's origins can be traced back to the 11th century when it was known as Kiricwereve, which translates to "artificial height with church." Over time, Kerkwerve evolved into a circular settlement centered around a church, a characteristic that emerged during the Middle Ages.