Quene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Quene family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name Quene is derived from Suibhne, an old Gaelic forename which probably means good-going or well-going. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Shuibhne.

Early Origins of the Quene family

The surname Quene was first found in on the Isles of Skye and Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where they were originally a branch of the MacDonalds of Clanranald. But although the MacQueens held lands of Garafad on the Isle of Skye for several centuries it is likely that the first MacQueen was the Lord of Knapdale in Argyllshire who held Castle Sween.

Early History of the Quene family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quene research.

Quene Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Quene has appeared in various documents spelled MacQueen, MacQueon, MacSween, MacSwene, MacSweyne, MacSwan, MacCunn and many more.

Early Notables of the Quene family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was MacQueen of Pall à Chrocain, a legendary Highland deer stalker popularly believed to have slain the last wolf Tarnaway Forest in the province of Morayshire in 1743. Apparently, he received a message from his chief, the Laird of Clan Mackintosh, that a black wolf had killed two children. He arrived late for the meeting, received a tirade from his chief only to reveal from under his garment the head of the wolf.

Quene Ranking

In the United States, the name Quene is the 1,814^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [1]

 Migration of the Quene family to Ireland

Some of the Quene family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Quene migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Queen or a variant listed above: 

Quene Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Amos Quene, who landed in New England in 1651-1652 [2]

Quene Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John Quene, who arrived in New York in 1804 [2]
• Manuel Quene, who landed in America in 1805 [2]
• James Quene, who landed in America in 1810 [2]
• Charles Quene, who arrived in America in 1811 [2]
• Patrick Quene, who arrived in America in 1811 [2]

 Quene migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Quene Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. John Quene U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 276 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [3]

 Quene migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Quene Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Henry Quene, (b. 1810), aged 28, Irish solder born in County Down, Ireland who was convicted in Quebec, Canada for 21 years for assault, transported aboard the “Bengal Merchant” on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [4]
• Mr. William Quene, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 8 years, transported aboard the “Equestrian” on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Island) [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Quene (post 1700) +

• Melvin Douglas “Mel” Quene (b. 1942), American Major League Baseball player and pitching coach
• Melvin Joseph Quene (1918-1982), American Major League Baseball pitcher
• Ivy Quene (b. 1972), Puerto Rican-American Latin Grammy nominated composer and singer
• Paul A. Quene, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1912 [6]
• Nolan Quene, American politician, Mayor of Weatherford, Texas, 1920-24 [6]
• Kenneth E. Quene, American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Upshur County, 1965-68 [6]
• John W. Quene, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1896 [6]
• J. Richard Quene, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1952 (alternate), 1956 [6]
• Ervin S. Quene, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Logan County; Elected 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 [6]
• David D. Quene, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1982-85 [6]