Quinn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Quinn was originally written in a Gaelic form as O Cuinn, which means descendant of Conn. 

Early Origins of the Quinn family

The surname Quinn was first found in county Longford (Irish: An Longfort) traditionally known as Annaly or Teffia, and situated in the Irish Midlands, in Northwest Leinster where they were Lords of Muintir Gillagain. The O’Quinns and MacQuinns (and all of the spelling variables derived from these) were descended from Conn, who in turn was descended from the Princes of Annaly.

Early History of the Quinn family

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

Quinn Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Quinn family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including O’Quinn, Quin, Quinn, Quine, MacQuin, MacQuinn, McQuin, McQuinn, MacCuin, Cuinn, Cuin and many more.

Early Notables of the Quinn family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Thomas O’Quinn, Bishop of Clonmacnois (1252-1279), as well as John Quinn, Bishop of Limerick (1522-1551), as well as Thady Quin (1645-1726) of Adare of the Thomond O’Quins, who was the grandfather of the first Earl of Dunraven. Walter Quin (c. 1575-1634), was an Irish poet and preceptor of Charles I. Born in Dublin, he travelled abroad and became a cultivated writer in English, French and Italian.

Quinn World Ranking

In the United States, the name Quinn is the 402^nd most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Quinn is ranked the 491^stmost popular surname with an estimated 9,902 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name Quinn is the 218^th popular surname with an estimated 15,239 people with that name. [3]New Zealand ranks Quinn as 321^st with 1,917 people. [4] The United Kingdom ranks Quinn as 199^th with 28,717 people. [5]

 Quinn migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Quinn family in North America: 

Quinn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• David Quinn, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1685 [6]

Quinn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Giller Quinn, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [6]
• Sophia Quinn, aged 67, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 [6]
• Barney Quinn, who settled in Maryland in 1776

Quinn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Nicholas Quinn, aged 34, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1812 [6]
• John Quinn, aged 42, who landed in New York in 1812-1813 [6]
• Laetitia Quinn, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 [6]
• Arthur Quinn, who arrived at the Port of New York, NY in 1816
• Arthur Quinn, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [6]

 Quinn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Quinn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Thomas Quinn, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
• Mr. Christopher Quinn U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 [7]

Quinn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Timothy Quinn, aged 40, who landed in Canada in 1823
• Katharine Quinn, aged 5, who arrived in Canada in 1823
• Mary Quinn, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
• Joseph Quinn, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1832
• John Quinn, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque “Independence” from Kinsale, Ireland

 Quinn migration to Australia+

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

Quinn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Catherine Quinn, (Quin), (b. 1752), aged 61, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
• Miss Elinor Quinn, (Ryder), (b. 1775), aged 38, Irish convict who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
• Miss Jane Quinn, (b. 1790), aged 23, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
• Miss Margaret Quinn, (b. 1792), aged 21, Irish convict who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1814 [8]
• Miss Margaret Quinn, (Gourlay, Quin), (b. 1764), aged 49, Irish country servant who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]

 Quinn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Quinn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Thomas Quinn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Phoenix” in 1860
• Miss Judith Quinn, (b. 1842), aged 20, British dairymaid travelling from London aboard the ship “Echunga” arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 [9]
• Mr. Jane Quinn, (b. 1831), aged 31, Irish settler from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship “Zealandia” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [10]
• Mrs. James Quinn, (b. 1837), aged 25, Irish labourer from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship “Zealandia” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [10]
• W. Quinn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Claramont” in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Quinn (post 1700) +

• Dennis Michael Quinn (1944-2021), American historian who focused on the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
• John R. Quinn (b. 1890), American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Los Angeles, California, 1929 [11]
• William Francis Quinn (1919-2006), American Republican politician, Candidate for Hawaii Territorial Senate, 1956; Governor of Hawaii Territory, 1957-59; Governor of Hawaii, 1959-62; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Hawaii, 1960 [11]
• Patrick Quinn (1983-2020), American amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) activist who helped generate awareness and raise more than US$220 million for medical research
• John Raphael Quinn (1929-2017), American Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of San Francisco (1977–1995)
• Yancey Quinn, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1924 [11]
• William Merrill Quinn (1886-1958), American Democratic Party politician, Lawyer; Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Lewis County, 1933-34; Member of Missouri State Senate, 1935-58 12th District 1935-46, 18th District 1947-58 [11]
• William J. Quinn, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1916 (alternate), 1924 (alternate), 1928 (member, Committee on Rules and Order of Business); Minnesota Democratic State Chair, 1929 [11]
• William H. Quinn, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1928 [11]
• William F. Quinn, American politician, First Selectman of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, 1950-55 [11]