Surname Quiney - Meaning and Origin
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Quiney: What does the surname Quiney mean?
The surname Quiney has various possible origins. One possibility is that it is derived from the Old French word cuinee, which was used to refer to a newly acquired piece of property or estate. According to experts on English surnames, the surname could have seen used to refer to someone who was the owner of a recently acquired piece of land.
Another possible origin of the name is a French-Norman place name, derived from the Latin word Cunegundis, meaning ‘hound’. This would suggest that the name is connected to someone who was related to a kennel or involved in the care of hounds.
The name may also have originated in the Celtic language as a shortening of the Gaelic McGuinness, meaning ‘son of the hound’.
No matter its origin, the surname Quiney is likely a topographic one, referring to someone who lived or worked near a kennel, or who owned a property or estate that was acquired in relatively recent times.
Order DNA origin analysisQuiney: Where does the name Quiney come from?
The last name Quiney is an English surname, found mostly in England and the UK. It is most commonly found in the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with a smaller concentration in Derbyshire. The derivation of Quiney may have been an anglicised variation of the Irish surname Quinney.
Quiney is not a common surname, but still occurring across parts of the British Isles. In 2018, there were 129 people living in England and Wales with the name, making it the 3,176th most common surname in the country. There are also records of Quineys living in the United States, India, Canada, and Australia.
The Quineys of Warwickshire are particularly renowned. The family had a long-standing presence in Warwickshire, where the Quiney family was a prominent local family of wealthy merchants. A member of the family, William Quiney, was a prominent Elizabethan courtier and was a principal actor in the Shakespeare authorship controversy. He is believed to have been the ‘Mr. W.H.’ referred to in a poem recorded by the 16th century poet John Davies. Another member of the family, Thomas Quiney, is the alleged father of Shakespeare's illegitimate son, the First Folio actor William Shakespeare the Younger.
The Quiney family continues to feature in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Quiney is still an uncommon surname, estimated to be held by just over a thousand people worldwide.
Variations of the surname Quiney
The Quiney surname, is believed to have been derived from the Old English surname Quine which is thought to be a variation of the word 'Coenig' which translates to 'king'. This reflects the notion that those with the Quiney surname may have had some sort of noble lineage or Royal connection.
Variants of the Quiney surname are Quinny, Quine,Quinn, Quinnie and Quinney. The spelling of the surnames can also vary, from 'Quiny' to 'Quinney'. Associated or similarly spelled surnames can include Quain, Quayne, Quaynes, Quane and Queeny.
Variants of the surname which are particularly common in Ireland are Quiney and Queeny, whereas in the United States, Quiney is more common.
In Scotland, variations of the Quiney surname have been recorded as Quine, Quinney, Quayne, Quayne and Quayne.
The Quiney surname has also been found in Australia, and the most popular variations recorded are Quinn and Queeny.
The various forms of this surname have long been intertwined across many countries and regions, making tracing the history of the surname an exciting journey for anyone interested in genealogy.
Famous people with the name Quiney
- Michael Quiney: American professional basketball player.
- Marjorie Quiney: English actress.
- William Quiney: English actor, son of Marjorie.
- Kevin Quiney: English actor, son of Marjorie.
- Benjamin Quiney: English druggist and haberdasher.
- Margaret Quiney: English Elizabethan diarist.
- Hank Quiney: American professional golfer.
- Charles E. Quiney: British ornithologist.
- William Quiney: English clergyman and superintendent of the Church of Scotland.
- John Quiney: English academic credited with pioneering the study of local history.
- Bill Quiney: English cricketer.
- Margaret Quiney: British artist.
- William Quiney: English Jacobean merchant and MP.
- Stedman Quiney: Barbadian cricketer.
- Bill Quiney: Australian footballer.
- George Quiney: English broadcaster and television/radio presenter.
- Edward Quiney: English actor and award-winning film director.
- Elizabeth Quiney: English actress known for her roles in the BBC television series ‘Gentlemen and Players’.
- Marjorie Quiney: English costume designer.
- Ramsey Quiney: English stage and film actor.