Surname McQuien - Meaning and Origin
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McQuien: What does the surname McQuien mean?
The surname McQuien is of Scottish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Shuibhne," which translates to "son of Suibhne." The personal name "Suibhne" is derived from the words "suibh," meaning "pleasant," and "sion," meaning "storm," hence the surname can possibly be interpreted as "son of the pleasant storm." It is also believed that the Suibhne referred to in the surname was an early 12th-century chief, Suibhne An Rothaich, from Argyllshire in Scotland. There is also association with Hebrides Island known as the Queen of Hebrides. The McQuien surname is most common in Scotland, particularly in the highlands and the islands of Skye and Lewis. It's important to remember that surname meanings can be somewhat ambiguous due to the evolution of language and the migration of families over time.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuien: Where does the name McQuien come from?
The last name McQuien is of Scottish origin; the prefix "Mc" typically indicates Scottish or Irish Gaelic descent. The name seems to be a variant of the surnames McQueen, MacQueen, or McQuinn, which are more common and trace their roots to the Scottish Highlands. McQueen or MacQueen originally derived from the Gaelic "Mac Shuibhne" meaning "son of Suibhne". Suibhne, an old Gaelic personal name, translates to "pleasant" or "well-going".
While there seems to be global dispersal due to migration, the McQuien surname, like its variants, is still most commonly found in countries with a significant historical Scottish/Irish influence. This includes Scotland itself, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is not considered a particularly common surname and may be less frequently encountered than its more recognizable variants. As with many surnames, its distribution is likely to be scattered and can vary greatly, even within these countries.
Variations of the surname McQuien
The surname McQuien might have several variants and spellings, illustrating the typical influence of regional accents and differing levels of literacy in the past. Among the possible variations are McQueen, MacQueen, MacQuene, MacQueine, MacQuuen, MacSwene, McQuin, McQuain, McQuinn, McQuwen, McQuyne, McQuene.
Sometimes, the prefix can also vary, leading to other possibilities like MacQuien, M'Quien, or even O'Quien. The spelling can also change when translated to different languages, for example in Gaelic it could be spelled as Mac Cuinn, borrowed from the Irish personal name Conn, meaning “chief”.
Also, as with many surnames beginning with Mc or Mac, these prefixes aren't always present. For example, Quien or Quin might be a result of the surname shortening over time.
There are many homophones or related spellings as well—names that sound similar but are spelled differently—like Quinn or Queen.
These variations can all be considered as evolutions of the same origin name, influenced by geographical, historical, and personal factors. As such, they might be considered the same surname for the purpose of genealogical research.
Famous people with the name McQuien
- Dr. Daniel McQuien: Houston native and optometrist of McQuien Vision Source.
- Jolie McQuien: Certified Child Life Specialist and Valley-based writer.
- Johnathon McQuien: Director of Real Estate Development for Seattle-based architectural firm, Kneerim & Williams.
- Lacey McQuien: Los Angeles-based hairstylist, specializing in editorial work and hair coloring.
- Dr. Janette McQuien: Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern California.
- Joe McQuien: Country music star and Grammy Award winner.
- Terri McQuien: Emmy Award-winning actor and producer in New York City.
- Zeke McQuien: Basketball player and gold medalist in the 1992 Olympic Games.
- Corina McQuien: Award-winning screenwriter and director.
- Miles McQuien: PGA Tour player and winner of many tournaments.