Surname Ó Quinn - Meaning and Origin

Ó Quinn: What does the surname Ó Quinn mean?

The surname Ó Quinn is an Irish surname; 'O' is typically the Irish prefix signifying 'descendant of'. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the given name of a direct ancestor. It was probably most often used to identify a descendant of Conn, a mythical king of the area now known as Tethbae, located in modern day County Leitrim.

Although Ó Quinn is the most commonly accepted spelling of the surname, other variations are also found. These include Ó Cuinn, Ó Conn, Ó Coinn and Quinn.

Although not certain, it is believed by many surname experts that the surname Ó Quinn likely has strong affiliations to the ancient Irish kings. It is thought by many that, in ages past, the bearers of the name were likely to have been related to the ancient and noble Kinkaid family, who held the title of Prince of Tethbae.

The popularity of the surname began to grow after the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century. Ó Quinn was often used as an anglicized version of Ó Cuinn, as it was much easier to pronounce and to spell.

The clan then spread out into many parts of Ireland and around the world, with the U.S. and Canada being the two countries with the greatest number of immigrants who carried the Ó Quinn surname.

Today, the Ó Quinn surname is still common throughout Ireland. Bearers of the name can still be found in the west as well as in many parts of the world.

Ó Quinn: Where does the name Ó Quinn come from?

The last name Ó Quinn is an old Irish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Cuinn, which was sometimes Anglicized to Quinn. Today, the surname is most commonly found in Ireland, as well as in the Irish diaspora around the world. It remains one of the most common surnames in Ireland, but is also found in Scotland, Wales, England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

In Ireland, the surname is especially common in County Donegal, where it is actually the eighth-most common surname in the country – and the most common in the county. It is also found in high numbers in the surrounding counties of Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh.

The Irish diaspora has seen many immigrants taking the name with them – especially to North America and the UK. In the U.S., for instance, the name is spread throughout the country, especially in the states with strong Irish populations such as Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

In recent times, changing immigration trends have seen an increase of the surname in places further afield – freed from the constraints of geography. This has seen the surname gaining a foothold in countries on all five continents of the world. In 2020, the surname Ó Quinn remains one of the more widespread Irish surnames, a tribute to its resilience over many centuries.

Variations of the surname Ó Quinn

The surname Ó Quinn is derived from the Gaelic term “O'Caoinne”, meaning “descendant of Caoinne”. This Irish family name is found in various spellings and varies regionally.

The most commonly seen variants of Ó Quinn are Quinn, Quin, Queene, Quinne, Coin, Charm and Chorm. In some cases, the “Ó” prefix may be dropped and the name may appear as just Quinn, or Queene.

The variations with “Mac” as a prefix are MacQuin, MacQueen and MacChurm, where the “O” has been replaced with “Mac”.

In Scotland, the name may take the form of O'Quin or O'Cuine, whilst in Wales, “O” may be replaced with “Ap,” so the name then becomes ApQuin, ApQueen and ApChurm.

The variations of the name Ó Quinn extend even further, with surnames Coen, Conn, Kain and Kaine becoming interchangeable. In the Irish language, surnames beginning with “Ó” are often shortened to the prefix “O”, with Quinn, Quinne, Coin and Chorm all taking on the same prefix.

Though the spellings and variants of the surname Ó Quinn vary, the roots remain the same: “descendant of Caoinne”. The surname is found in many places across the world, and it is up to the individual family to decide which spelling or variant to use.

Famous people with the name Ó Quinn

• Joe Ó Quinn: Irish Gaelic footballer and hurler
• Danny Ó Quinn: Irish footballer
• Henry Ó Quinn: Irish painter and sculptor
• Ciarán Ó Quinn: Irish retired hurler
• Conal Ó Quinn: Irish politician
• Eimear Ó Quinn: Irish Gaelic footballer
• Seán Óg Ó Quinn: Irish musician
• Margaret Ó Quinn: Irish activist and music promoter
• Siobhán Ó Quinn: Irish former jockey
• Sinéad Ó Quinn: Irish actress and model

Other surnames

Ó Quin