What did Darwin really mean?

I think that part of the reason why there is a struggle with Darwinism is pure ignorance.
People do not know what it means to be Darwinist.

It is not the exact same thing as evolution!
Darwin merely provided a mechanism for evolution, that being natural selection.
There are other means by which evolution is thought to have occurred, and these things are still debated today.
Even within Darwinism there are several theories and sub-theories differing in their belief on the mechanics of evolution:

Pure Darwinism argued solely for Natural selection as the mechanism.

Then once you throw the idea of heredity into the picture, you come up with all sorts of theories!

Neo-Darwinist model, which we shall take as the mainstream theory of evolution today, argues that life has evolved through two natural mechanisms: "natural selection" and "mutation".

Some religious groups believe that evolution occurs with the help of a Creator....others believe that evolution occurs with the help of a Creator along with continual help.

Many groups, including Christians, might support ideas of evolution, but not Darwinism.

It depends on what you mean by "evolution."
Do you mean evolution by means of natural selection, by means of God, by other means?

The question is more complex than most people relieve.