Quinn - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Cuinn
Meaning: descendant of Conn - “chief”
Traditional stronghold: Clare, Antrim, Tyrone
Pronunciation: KWIN; Irish O Cuinn: oh KWIN
History of the Quinn name
Quinn derives from Conn, an ancient personal name associated with legendary figures such as Conn of the Hundred Battles. Several distinct O'Quinn septs existed, the most notable in Clare, where they were chiefs under the O'Briens, and another in Tyrone as part of the Cenel Eoghain confederacy. Because the name arose independently in Munster and Ulster, it spread widely from an early date, and Quinn is now consistently ranked among the most common surnames in Ireland, with particular strength in Clare, Longford and across Ulster.
Variants: Quin · O'Quinn · MacQuinn
Famous bearers of the name
- Niall Quinn - Dublin-born footballer and former Sunderland chairman
- Aidan Quinn - Irish-American actor
- Feargal Quinn - Irish supermarket entrepreneur and senator
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Brien · O'Neill · Kennedy · McDonnell · McMahon · Boland · Keane · Hogan