Surname Quown - Meaning and Origin

Quown: What does the surname Quown mean?

The last name Quown is a very unique name that originated in England or Scotland. It is believed to be an occupational name of Old English origin. This name is derived from the English words ‘cweorn’, meaning miller or millwright or ‘queorn’, meaning female miller. It is possible that the first Quown moved from England to Scotland some centuries back, which explains why the name is rare in England but still present in Scotland.

The name Quown can also be seen as an example of patronymic surnames. Patronymic names are derived from the first name of a person's father and often end with the suffix -son, which in the case of Quown could be Quinnson. So, it is possible that the surname originates from a man named Quinn or Quine and would have been created when one of his descendants began using it.

Throughout history, the name Quown has been used by people belonging to a wide range of professions. For example, during the eighteenth century, three different members of the Quown family could be found in Scotland who went by the professions of jeweler, blacksmith and teacher.

Quown is an unusual but interesting surname with a lot of potential to uncover its history. With a bit of research and perhaps some help from those with the surname, it's possible to create an in-depth history of the Quown family.

Quown: Where does the name Quown come from?

The last name Quown is not common today, but it has a long history. It first appears in records from the 14th century in England, where it was used as a variant of the name Quenn. It was also found in Scotland, where it was often spelled Qwon or Quone. In the 17th century, Quowns had migrated to America, and by the 18th century, Quowns were established primarily in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Today, Quown is still found primarily in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were fewer than 800 people in America with the last name Quown in 2019. While there haven’t been any population studies to give a more detailed picture of where Quowns live in the United States, Quowns are more likely to be found in the area of Virginia where they initially settled.

Quowns are scattered throughout the country, but they remain a relatively rare name. There are even fewer Quowns in the United Kingdom, with the name only appearing in records occasionally in the early 19th century. With such low numbers, it’s likely that the last name Quown will remain rare for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Quown

Quown is a rare English surname which is derived from the Old English personal name called Cwan, which is also related to the Welsh words 'cwys', meaning 'life', and 'gwan', meaning 'arise'. The Quown surname is sometimes spelled Qwan, Kwown, and Quane, with several other variants including Quoine, Quan, Qwoyne and Quowne.

In some cases, the surname Quown is related to the Old English word 'cwy', which was used to refer to many different species of birds and/or animals amongst the Anglo Saxons. Therefore, researchers have suggested that the Quown surname may originally have been used as a nickname or byname for an individual with characteristics similar to these animals.

The earliest record of the surname Quown is Thomas Quowne, who appears in Church documents in Norfolk, England in 1580, and Jonas Cwane, who is listed in Court documents from the same county in 1581.

Various other spellings such as Kwon, Qwain, Coone, Quoyne, Quoene, and Coen are found in records throughout England and Wales. It is believed that some families bearing these spellings may share common ancestry with the Quown family.

In Scotland, the name Qwen appears in records from Dumfrieshire and Clan MacDonald, and the surname Coone is related to the old Scottish Gaelic clan-name MacCuinn, which is derived from the Gaelic 'con', meaning 'hound'.

The Quown surname is most commonly found in Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia. It is also found across Europe, especially in countries such as France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.

Famous people with the name Quown

• Gloria Quown: Actor, writer, and teacher
• Paul Quown: Hollywood cinematographer
• Bill Quown: American motorsports and racing promoter
• Mary Lou Quown: Canadian hockey player
• Frank Quown: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
• David Quown: American professional golfer
• Kim Quown: Actor best known for her work in television
• Harry Quown: American chemist and professor of organic chemistry
• Eleanor Quown: Author of tie-in fiction novels
• Mariann Quown: American journalist and author
• Thomas Quown: Renowned artist and teacher
• Alan Quown: American amateur astronomer
• Samuel Quown: Academy Award-winning producer of films
• Florence Quown: Canadian public health nurse
• Henry Quown: Poet and children’s book author
• Betty Quown: Creator of the Quown family tree
• Faith Quown: American modern dancer
• Ella Quown: Canadian nurse and educator
• Edwin Quown: Investment banker and philanthropist
• Eliza Quown: Canadian poet and playwright

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