Surname Quigly - Meaning and Origin

Quigly: What does the surname Quigly mean?

The last name Quigly is of English and Irish origin, deriving from a Gaelic surname which was eventually anglicized to Quigly. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Uiginn. It was commonly found in County Cork, where the patriarch of the Quigly family had lived in the early 1500s.

The name Quigly is believed to mean "people of Úiginn," the name of the ancestor who led the family in the 16th century. There are a few variations to this meaning, however, one of which being that the original name could have derived from a personal name which means "intelligent" or "wise."

The Quigly name has been found throughout England and Ireland, but more commonly in Ireland, with an estimated 100,000 people carrying the last name. In the US, the Quigly name is less common, but still has a long and storied history.

Historically, the Quigly family was involved in the crafting of iron and steel weapons, as well as the production of ale. The family was also known to be quite wealthy, with influential members holding positions in government and the armed forces throughout the centuries.

In modern times, there are still many Quiglys living in the US and elsewhere, and the name continues to live on in modern culture. A popular movie starring John Candy in the early 1990s is named after the last name, and so are a variety of products ranging from food and beverage to outdoor products. The Quigly surname is an enduring one with a long and interesting history.

Quigly: Where does the name Quigly come from?

The last name Quigly is primarily found in the English-speaking world. It is most common in Ireland and Great Britain, in particular, in the counties of Galway, Mayo, and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland, and in Antrim, Armagh, Derry, and Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It is also a common surname in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

In the United States, Quigly is mainly found in the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Records of the name date back to the early 1700s when the Quigley, Quigly, and Quiggle families first settled in Massachusetts. There is also a significant presence of the Quigly family in the states of Florida and California.

The origin of the name is uncertain, but there are several theories. Most likely, it is of Irish origin, derived from the Anglicized form of the Gaelic surnames Mac Uiginn or Mac Uigle (MacUiginn meaning “son of the Uíbh Fhailí”). Another theory suggests that the name may be derived from MacUig minim, the Irish term for “descendants of the servant of the king”.

The spelling of the surname is often varied, with Quigly, Quigley, and Quiggle some of the more common variations. Today, Quigly remains a fairly common surname in English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Quigly

The surname Quigly is an anglicized version of the Irish name Ó Cuisleóid. There are a number of different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Quinlivan, Quinlevan, Quingley, Quinlagy, Quinlivan, Quinglvan, Quingley, Quinlacy and Quinla. There are also variations such as Quigley, Quigly, Quigle, Quigl, Quig and Quiguely. All of these variations have the same origin and are connected to the original Irish name.

Some of these surnames are derived from the Gaelic-Irish phrase O Cuisleóid, which translates to “descendent of Cuisleóid”. Cuisleóid was an Irish patronymic name which was derived from the Old Irish word “cuisle” meaning “wish” or “desire”. The surname was taken on by families in Northern Ireland in the 17th century when Irish names were replaced by English versions.

These surname variations are all related to the original Quigly surname, and can be found in Ireland and parts of the United States. They all have the same origin, and are variations of the patronymic Irish name O Cuisleóid, which translates to “descendent of Cuisleóid”.

Famous people with the name Quigly

• Catherine Quigley, an American modern dancer
• Danny Quigley, an American professional lacrosse player
• Grace Quigley, an American comedy drama film starring Katharine Hepburn
• Harry Quigley, an American interventional cardiologist
• John Quigley, an Irish sports commentator
• Martin Quigley, an American film production executive
• Paul Quigley, a Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Patrick Quigley, an American Episcopal priest and a rector
• Robert Quigley, a Canadian soccer player
• Richard Quigley, an American magician
• Thomas Quigley, an American professor of French
• William Quigley, a Caymanian politician and businessman
• Kim Quigley, an American pornographic actress

Other surnames

Quigley