Žirnovnica (Zhirnovinec) is recorded in the Ottomandefter of 1467 as a village in the ziamet of Reka which was under the authority of Karagöz Bey. The village had a total of 22 households and the anthroponymy attested depicts a mixed Albanian-Slavic character (e.g., Petko Palgushi).[1]
Žirovnica has traditionally been inhabited by a Torbeš population.[2] The village contains municipal services and civic buildings.[3] As such in recent decades, some Upper Reka Albanian residents from neighbouring Vrbjani have migrated to Žirovnica and number 258 people.[3]
According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 1608 inhabitants.[4] Ethnic groups in the village include:[4]
^Caka, Eduart (2019). Defteri i hollësishëm për zonat e dibrës i vitit 1467. Tiranë: Akademia e studimeve albanologjike instituti historisë. p. 124.
^Vidoeski, Božidar (1998). Dijalektite na makedonskiot jazik. Vol. 1. Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite. ISBN9789989649509. p. 214. "Само со Торбеши се населени денеска Жировница, Видуше, Болетин, Аџиефци, Присојница, Скудриње, Горно Косоврасти (во Река),..."
^ abSherafedin Kaso (2005). The settlements with Muslim population in Macedonia. Logos-A. p. 375. ISBN978-9989-58-155-7.."Gjendet në një lartësi mbidetareprej afro 900 metrash, në shpatijet e malit Deshat. Kohëve rë fundit është shtuar migrimi i banorëve Vërbjanit. Këtu ka shkollë tetëvjeçare në gjuhën maqedonase. Fshat ka ambulance, postë, disa objekte ekonomike dhe tri xhami. Këtu të gjithe banorët janë të konfesionit Islam. [It is situated at an altitude of around 900 meters, at the slopes of Mount Deshat. Recently there has been an increase in the migration of residents from Vrbjani. There is an eight-year primary school in Macedonian. The village has an ambulance, a post office, and several economic buildings as well as three mosques. All of the inhabitants here belong to the Islamic faith]."