Surname McQuinn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McQuinn: What does the surname McQuinn mean?
The surname McQuinn is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic word "Mac Cuinn" which means "son of Conn". The name Conn comes from the Gaelic word "ceann" which can be translated as "head" or "chief". Therefore, the surname McQuinn can be interpreted to imply a familial relationship or direct descent from a leader or someone held in high regard. As with many surnames of Gaelic origin, the prefix 'Mac' signifies 'son of'. This surname has many variations including MacCuin, MacQuin, MacQuinn, McQuinn, McQuin, and O'Quinn. It is important to note that surnames were often recorded as they sounded, leading to many spelling variations. The surname McQuinn is widespread in Ireland, particularly in the province of Ulster and County Tyrone.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuinn: Where does the name McQuinn come from?
The last name McQuinn originated from Ireland, predominantly from the County of Clare. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuinn" which means "son of Conn". The personal name Conn, coming from the Gaelic word 'ceann', can be translated as 'head' or 'chief'.
When the British invaded, many Irish families were forced to Anglicize their names, hence the Gaelic version of the name was phased out over time and replaced with the English version, McQuinn. Some McQuinns also emigrated during the widespread Irish diaspora during the 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the spread of the surname to nations such as America, England, Canada, and Australia.
Today, it remains relatively common in both Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities around the world. More concentrated clusters of McQuinns could be found in places like the United States and Australia due to past emigration patterns. However, as is the case with many surnames, precise current geographic distribution can be difficult to determine.
Variations of the surname McQuinn
The surname McQuinn is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Cuinn" which means "son of Conn". Variations of this surname are largely due to the translation from Gaelic to English and may include McQuin, McQuinn, McQuinney, MacQuin, MacQuinn, MacQuinney, O'Quinn, O'Quin, O'Quinney, Quinn, Quin, and Quinney.
Each variant could have other deviations dependent on family branches, and the existence of these or others depends on records within different regions, as well as differences in spelling based on pronunciation and Anglicization. For the same reasons, the surname also varies amongst different countries.
For example, the name could be adapted to the specific country's language and thus changed slightly to something similar but more fitting to the area's phonetics. The surnames Quinn or Quin are very common due to their simpler spelling and pronunciation.
It's also important to note that Mc, Mac, and O' in Irish surnames denote 'son of..' or 'descendant of..' and this could impact the variants of the surname McQuinn. Any of these variants could potentially also be without the 'Mc', 'Mac' or 'O' prefixes.
Famous people with the name McQuinn
- Mark McQuinn: He was a Major League Baseball player who earned fame for his strength and accuracy as a first baseman. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Red Sox.
- Joseph P. McQuinn: An American politician prominently remembered for his work as a Democratic representative from Missouri in the United States House of Representatives from 1923 to 1925.
- Kevin McQuinn: A popular American actor who appeared in notable television shows and films during the 20th Century, including The Amazing Transparent Man (1960) and The Twilight Zone (1961-1963).
- Eddie McQuinn: He was a heavyweight boxer from the 1920s, and he was in the ring with other notable fighters of his era.
- Kelleigh McQuinn: She is an actress and writer known for her work on Blind Horizon (2003), My 2 Black Girlfriends (2014), and Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta (2019). Note: There are not many famous individuals with the last name "McQuinn", so further verifiable individuals might be limited.