Surname MacQuinne - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacQuinne: What does the surname MacQuinne mean?
MacQuinne is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin. It's derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuinn," meaning "son of Conn." Conn is a personal name coming from Old Gaelic 'Con', which means 'hound' or 'wolf'. Therefore, the name MacQuinne can be interpreted as 'Son of the Hound' or 'Son of the Wolf.' This surname reflects the ancient Celtic tradition of associating tribal heads or chieftains with animals, symbolizing their warrior-like qualities and heroic attributes. As with many Scottish and Irish surnames, the prefix 'Mac' indicates a patronymic lineage, signifying ancestral connections. MacQuinne was often anglicised to MacQueen in the past. It is important to note, however, that names can vary in their interpretations and origins due to regional influences, local dialects, and evolution over time. Regulations on spelling did not exist until relatively recent times, thus affecting the different variations we see today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQuinne: Where does the name MacQuinne come from?
The surname MacQuinne is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuinn," meaning "Son of Conn". Conn is a personal name that signifies wisdom, intelligence, or being a chief. The name's origins trace back to ancient Scotland, with the family holding a family seat in Argyll, a region in the highlands of Western Scotland, as part of the ancient Strathclyde Briton people.
The geographical distribution of the MacQuinne name is not widespread, thus making it relatively uncommon today. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, many families gradually migrated to North America and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand during the Scottish exodus in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. As a result, the MacQuinne surname might be somewhat common within these regions or within Scottish communities residing there. Also due to spelling variations over time and across regions, similar surnames like MacQueen, McQueen, or McQuinn might be more prevalent today.
Variations of the surname MacQuinne
The surname MacQuinne is of Scottish origin and held great significance in early Scottish history referring to "descendant of Conn." It has various spelling variations due to different regional pronunciation, influences of other languages over time, and even translation errors. Such variations include: MacQueen, MacQueens, MacQueene, MacCuen, MacQuin, McQueen, McQueene, McQuinn, McQuinne, and McQuinnies.
There are some anglicized forms as well, such as Queen, Queens, Queene, and Queenes. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" typically signifies "son of" in surnames of Celtic origin. As migration to other English-speaking countries increased during the 18th and 19th centuries, these names also adapted to their new linguistic environments.
As a surname, it’s also plausible to find it hyphenated or combined with another prefix, possibly denoting a marital union or land possession; for example, MacQueen-Smith or O'MacQueen.
These variations, while preserving the phonetic integrity of the original name, often make genealogical research a little more complex, as family connections may be overlooked due to different spellings or phonetic interpretations.
Regardless of the variant or spelling, all these names share the same roots and indicate a common line of ancestry originating from the Celtic tribes of Early Medieval Scotland.
Famous people with the name MacQuinne
- Norman MacQuinne, the composer who wrote the music for films such as The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and National Lampoon's Vacation.
- William MacQuinne, a Scottish politician who served in the 19th-century House of Commons and held a seat from 1880–1885.
- Rose MacQuinne, a country singer-songwriter who has been inducted into the Saskatchewan Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Abigail MacQuinne, an American actress who starred in films such as Safe Haven and TV shows such as Blue Bloods.
- Jordan MacQuinne, the award-winning artist and illustrator whose work has been featured on the cover of National Geographic.
- Daniel MacQuinne, the Manager of Community Initiatives for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award in Scotland.
- Craig MacQuinne, an actor best known for the role of Doctor Lewis in BBC Scotland's River City.
- Graham MacQuinne, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Manchester and co-author of the book The Temporal Lobes.
- Dallon MacQuinne, a Canadian businessman and Vice President of Sales at the GoodLife Fitness Club.
- Robert MacQuinne, the former Minister of Labour and Social Security for Slovakia.