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Irish surname

Quill: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cuill · 'descendant of Coll' (hazel, also head)

Woulfe (1923) gives Quill as an anglicised form of Ó Cuill, 'descendant of Coll' (hazel, also head), 'the name of a celebrated literary and bardic family in Munster'. He says the name is now found chiefly in Cork and Kerry, and is sometimes disguised as Woods. In 1890 Ireland's birth indexes held 10 Quill entries, principally found in Cork.

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Coat of arms associated with the Quill surname
Irish formÓ Cuill
Meaning'descendant of Coll' (hazel, also head)
CountiesCork, Kerry
Other spellings3

Origin of the Quill name

Woulfe: Ó Cuill, 'the name of a celebrated literary and bardic family in Munster. They are, according to MacFirbis (p. 622), of the same stock as the O'Sullivans. The name is now found chiefly in Cork and Kerry, but is sometimes disguised under the anglicised form of Woods'.[1]

  1. 958Four Masters: Finshneachta Ua Cuill, poet of Munster, died.[3]
  2. 1048Four Masters: entry for Ceannfaeladh Ua Cuill, chief poet of Munster.[4]
  3. 1507Four Masters: O'Cuill (Kenfaela) died.[5]
  4. 189010 Quill birth entries in Ireland; principally found in Cork.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkWoulfe: now found chiefly in Cork and Kerry; the only county Matheson names for Quill in 1890.[1][2]
Co. KerryWoulfe: the name is now found chiefly in Cork and Kerry.[1]

Notable people named Quill

Ceannfaeladh Ua Cuillannal entry 1048Named by the Four Masters under the year 1048 as chief poet of Munster.[4]

Other spellings

O Cwill · O'Cuill · Woods[1]

The Quill coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Quill surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Quill crest gifts

Clan Quill Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapUS18 Classic Cap - Quill Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Quill Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Quill Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap CB72 Quill Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Quill Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Quill surname: questions

What does the surname Quill mean?

Woulfe gives Quill as a form of Ó Cuill, 'descendant of Coll', and glosses Coll as 'hazel, also head'.[1]

Is Quill an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Quill as an anglicised form of Ó Cuill, the name of 'a celebrated literary and bardic family in Munster'.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Quill name from?

Munster. Woulfe says the name is now found chiefly in Cork and Kerry; in 1890 Quill births were principally found in Cork.[1][2]

Why do some Quills use the name Woods?

Woulfe says Ó Cuill is sometimes disguised under the anglicised form Woods, which is supposed to be a translation, the Irish name resembling a word for 'a wood'.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Cuill — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cuill.php
  2. Quill — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/quill.php
  3. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 958 (part 6) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text006.html
  4. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1048 (part 15) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text015.html
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1507 (part 1) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005E/text001.html

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).