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Irish surname

Quinn: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cuinn · 'descendant of Conn' (head, sense, reason, intelligence; also a freeman)

Quinn, also spelt Quin, is an anglicised form of the Irish Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn'. Woulfe (1923) calls it a very common surname in all parts of Ireland and records several distinct families, the best known in Clare, Longford, Antrim, West Ulster and Mayo. He says the Earl of Dunraven is a member of the Clare family.

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Coat of arms associated with the Quinn surname
Irish formÓ Cuinn
Meaning'descendant of Conn' (head, sense, reason, intelligence; also a freeman)
CountiesClare, Longford, Antrim, Mayo
Other spellings4

Origin of the Quinn name

Woulfe lists five best-known families: in Thomond, a Dal gCais branch descended from Conn, lord of Muinntear Ifearnain (late 10th century), originally seated at Inchiquin, their territory the country around Corofin, Co. Clare; in Annaly, chiefs in Co. Longford until displaced by the O'Farrells; in Antrim; in Magh Itha, barony of Raphoe; and Clann Cuain near Castlebar, Co. Mayo.[1]

  1. 1218Conghalach Ó Cuinn of Antrim slain by the English.[1]
  2. 1714Actor James Quin first appears on stage at Smock-alley Theatre, Dublin.[4]
  3. 1836Michael Joseph Quin conceives the Catholic quarterly 'Dublin Review'.[5]
  4. 1850Edwin Wyndham Quin succeeds as 3rd Earl of Dunraven.[3]
  5. 1890408 birth entries for Quinn, Quin and other spellings, found in every county.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. ClareÓ Cuinn of Thomond held Muinntear Ifearnain, the country around Corofin; seated at Inchiquin.[1]
Co. LongfordÓ Cuinn of Annaly were chiefs of Muinntear Giollagain; Quin is 'now a very common surname' here.[1]
Co. AntrimÓ Cuinn of Antrim were chiefs of Magh Lughadh and Siol Cathasaigh; principal county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. MayoÓ Cuinn of Clann Cuain were chiefs near Castlebar, later tributary to MacDermott of Moylurg.[1]
Co. TyroneAmong the principal counties for Quinn births in 1890.[2]
Co. DublinMost Quinn births of any county in 1890 (44 entries).[2]

Notable people named Quinn

James Quin1693–1766Actor born in London of Irish parents; first acted in Dublin; considered one of the first British actors until Garrick.[4]
Michael Joseph Quin1796–1843Born at Thurles, Co. Tipperary; journalist and travel writer; originator and first editor of the 'Dublin Review'.[5]
Edwin Wyndham Quin, 3rd Earl of Dunraven1812–1871Archaeologist; visited nearly every barony in Ireland to record its ancient architecture; 'Notes on Irish Architecture'.[3]

Other spellings

Quin · O'Quin · Queen · Coyne[1]

The Quinn coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Quinn 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.

Quinn crest gifts

Clan Quinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap VO31 Quinn Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Quinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Quinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapEL66 Classic Cap - Quinn Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Quinn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Quinn surname: questions

What does the surname Quinn mean?

Woulfe gives Quinn as an anglicised form of Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn', and glosses Conn as head, sense, reason or intelligence, and also a freeman.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Quinn name from?

Woulfe calls it very common in all parts of Ireland and lists families in Clare, Longford, Antrim, Magh Itha (barony of Raphoe, West Ulster) and Mayo. In 1890 it was found in every county, principally Dublin, Tyrone, Antrim, Roscommon and Galway.[1][2]

Is there a difference between Quinn and Quin?

Woulfe lists both, with O'Quin and Queen, as anglicised forms of the same Irish name, Ó Cuinn. Matheson's 1890 indexes counted 349 Quinn and 58 Quin entries.[1][2]

Are Coyne and Quinn related?

Woulfe says Ó Cuinn is pronounced O'Coyne in the south of Ireland, hence the anglicised form Coyne which is sometimes used.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Cuinn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cuinn.php
  2. Quinn – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/quinn.php
  3. Edwin Wyndham Quin, 3rd Earl of Dunraven — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/EdwinWyndhamQuin.php
  4. James Quin — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JamesQuin.php
  5. Michael Joseph Quin — Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), New Advent. newadvent.org/cathen/12613a.htm

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