Surname O'Quinns - Meaning and Origin
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O'Quinns: What does the surname O'Quinns mean?
The last name O'Quinns is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, which itself is derived from the Irish words “cu” and “inn”, meaning “descendant of Conn”. “Conn” was a legendary Irish high king of the second century who gave his name to the ancient Irish Connachta dynasty. The O'Quinns who have adopted English as their mother tongue usually refer to themselves as Quinns.
The O'Quinns in Ireland can trace their ancestry back to the Hy-Fiachra dynasty from County Donegal in the 13th century, and other notable O'Quinns held various titles until the 17th century, but none survived the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. After the Battle of the Boyne, many O'Quinns emigrated to other parts of the world and anglicized their name Quinn.
The O'Quinns have become well known for their strong links with other learned families of Ireland, such as the O'Neills and the O'Briens. They also feature heavily in Irish folk music and literature as a symbol of Irish culture and heritage.
Throughout history, the O'Quinns have been respected and respected for their successful contribution to Irish literature, music, and culture. Today, O'Quinns still thrive in Ireland, and around the world, and proudly live up to their family motto, “Veritas Liberabit Vos” – truth shall set you free.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Quinns: Where does the name O'Quinns come from?
The last name O'Quinn is most common in Ireland and is believed to be of Gaelic origin. It is primarily found in counties Mayo, Clare, Tipperary, Cork, and Longford. It is also overwhelmingly found in the United States, particularly the South, with higher concentration in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana.
In the United States, the name O'Quinn is particularly common in the South. This may be due to the fact that Irish people migrated to the American South in the 19th century and settled in the cotton fields throughout the region. O'Quinns likely followed similar migration patterns as other Irish immigrants, traveling through the port of New Orleans and settling in various parts of the South.
The name can be found in other parts of the world as well, especially in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, largely due to 19th century immigration. There may even be small numbers of O'Quinns in Central and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Asia.
In keeping with modern trends, some O'Quinns in the United States have anglicized their last name to Quinn, Quin or even Quinnell. While the name O'Quinn is still far more popular in Ireland, its presence in other parts of the world is a testament to the endurance of a name that has journeyed with the O'Quinn family for centuries.
Variations of the surname O'Quinns
The O'Quinn surname has many variants and spellings depending on the ancestral origin. It may be spelled variously as O'Quinn, O'Quin, Quinn, Quin, O'Quinne, Quinns, Quinne, O'Quine, Quine, O'Quin, O'Quyne, O'Quinnen, Quinen, O'Quynn, Quinno, O'Quinney, Quiney, O'Quien, O'Quein, O'Quion, O'Quinny, O'Qwin, O'Quenen, Quinnen, O'Quen, O'Quhen, Ouin, Ouein, and more.
The origins of the O'Quinn surname are Irish as it is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Cuinn, which means "descendant of Conn." This name derives from the Old Irish personal name Conn, meaning "chief" or "leader."
The variants of this surname often stem from a combination of Irish immigration and English language obstacles. For example, the Gaelic names in Britain were routinely Anglicized which resulted in the different variations of the name. Furthermore, the lack of standard spelling conventions in both the Irish and English languages gave rise to a wide range of variants. Some variants that bear little resemblance to the original O'Quinn name, such as Quinne and Quine, may point to Germanic or Scandinavian origins.
The O'Quinn surname is still a widely used Irish surname today and is the second most commonly encountered form of the O'Cuinn surname. As such, while the variants of the O'Quinn surname may have changed slightly over time, those of Irish ancestry who bear the name can embrace its remarkable heritage.
Famous people with the name O'Quinns
- Terry O'Quinn: actor best known for his roles as John Locke in Lost and Pete Malo in The Rocketeer
- Peter O'Quinn: American professional golfer who has won the Nationwide Tour three times and achieved great success on the PGA Tour
- Kerry O'Quinn: American magazine publisher, author, scriptwriter, and film producer best known for creating Starlog and Fangoria publications
- Sean O'Quinn: American politician who is the current US Ambassador to Nicaragua
- Jack O'Quinn: former professional baseball player
- Bart O'Quinn: a famous artist known for his paintings of Irish landscapes
- Colin O'Quinn: Irish television presenter and journalist
- Robert O'Quinn: American film and television actor
- Caitlin O'Quinn: American actress best known for playing Mera in Aquaman
- Jamie O'Quinn: professional boxer from Ireland
- Mark O'Quinn: Australian professional rugby league footballer
- Arthur O'Quinn: former professional American football player
- Bonnie O'Quinn: country music singer and songwriter
- Kevin O'Quinn: Irish actor, best known for his roles in films such as The Departed and The Town
- Elizabeth O'Quinn: award-winning American author best known for her historical novels