Surname Quin - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'Q'
Quin: What does the surname Quin mean?
Quin is a surname of Irish origin. It derived from the Gaelic word "O'Cuinn" which means "descendant of Conn". The name Conn itself comes from the Gaelic “ceann” that means “head”, suggesting a person who is a leader. In the context of ancient Irish clans, the "O" prefix signifies "grandson of" or "descendant of", indicating that the bearers of Quin surname are likely descendants of a prominent leader named Conn. Hence, in a broader sense, the surname Quin can be interpreted as a hereditary designation for the descendants of a leader. Over the years, the spelling of the surname has evolved to various forms such as Quinn, Quin, O'Quinn, O'Quin, and Quine due to geographical expansion and cultural changes. It has been adopted and utilized across various English-speaking countries. The Quin surname has several illustrious bearers in the field of arts, politics, sports and many more.
Order DNA origin analysisQuin: Where does the name Quin come from?
The surname Quin is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Cuinn" which means "descendant of Conn". The name Conn comes from the Gaelic word "ceann", which means "head" or "chief". Hence, Quin generally implies the descendant of a leader or chief. Most bearers of the name are believed to descend from one of three powerful 10th-century families in Counties Tyrone, Longford, and Clare.
The Quin surname saw a decline in use in Ireland due to the Anglo-Norman invasions, with many members of the family changing their surname to avoid persecution. Despite this, the surname has survived and is fairly common today in both Ireland and among Irish diaspora in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
In Ireland, it is particularly prevalent in northern and western regions, including Donegal, Galway, and Roscommon counties. As a result of widespread emigration, especially following the Great Famine, the name has become relatively common in the United States, particularly in states with large Irish-American populations. Today, it is also fairly common in some parts of the United Kingdom and Australia.
Variations of the surname Quin
The surname Quin is believed to have Irish roots, primarily from the native Gaelic O'Cuinn clan, which means "descendant of Conn." Conn is an old Gaelic name translating to "chief" or "intellect." Variations of the Quin surname over centuries include Quinn, Quine, O'Quinn, O'Quin, O'Quine, O'Quiney, McQuinn, and MacQuin.
This name is popular among Irish and Scottish cultures. In Scotland, the surname Quinn is considered a sept of Clan Mackintosh, falling under the larger umbrella of the Chattan Confederation. Therefore, Scottish versions of the surname might also include Mackintosh or MacIntosh.
Sometimes, the use of prefixes was dropped, leading to simply Quin or Quinn. Other times, the name was anglicized, leading to spellings like Win, Wynne or Wynn, as "c" or "k" sound in Gaelic can sound like "w" in English.
Spellings can also vary depending on regional dialects and accents, and how those were translated into written words by English speakers. So, the surname may also appear as Quyn, Quyne, or Quynne. It's also worth noting that surnames could be misspelled or change over generations due to illiteracy in the past.
Famous people with the name Quin
- Colin Quinn: An American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He's known for his work on Saturday Night Live, and for his comedic one-man shows.
- Molly Quinn: An American actress who is well-known for her role as Alexis Castle, on the ABC crime-comedy-drama television series, Castle.
- Anthony Quinn: A Mexican-born actor, painter and writer, known for his roles in films like Viva Zapata!, Lust for Life, and Zorba the Greek. He won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
- Francisco Quinn: An American actor, and the son of Anthony Quinn.
- Patricia Quinn: A Northern Irish actress best known for her role as Magenta in the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- Aileen Quinn: An American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for having played the title role in the film "Annie".
- Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson: A retired professional mixed martial artist and actor.
- Aidan Quinn: An American actor, who made his film debut in Reckless. He's had roles in films like Legends of the Fall and Benny & Joon.
- Zachary Quinto: An American actor and film producer, known for his role as Spock in the Star Trek reboot series, and as Sylar on the television series Heroes.
- Saoirse-Monica Jackson: Known for her role in the British sitcom "Derry Girls". Note: Although the pronunciation may vary, the last names Quinto, Quinton, and Jackson can be phonetically similar to Quin.