NameCensus.

UK surname

Quin

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cuinn referring to a descendant of Conn.

In the 1881 census there were 3,223 people recorded with the Quin surname, ranking it #1,402 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,037, ranked #5,621, down from #1,402 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, Paisley North and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quin is 3,223 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.8%.

1881 census count

3,223

Ranked #1,402

Modern count

1,037

2016, ranked #5,621

Peak year

1881

3,223 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quin had 3,223 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,402 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,037 in 2016, ranked #5,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,223 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Quin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Quin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Quin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2,746 #1,072
1861 historical 2,645 #1,110
1881 historical 3,223 #1,402
1891 historical 2,407 #1,953
1901 historical 2,345 #2,313
1911 historical 1,072 #4,323
1997 modern 1,029 #5,355
1998 modern 1,062 #5,400
1999 modern 1,051 #5,480
2000 modern 1,020 #5,588
2001 modern 1,006 #5,556
2002 modern 1,039 #5,517
2003 modern 1,001 #5,589
2004 modern 1,003 #5,585
2005 modern 1,007 #5,515
2006 modern 1,011 #5,515
2007 modern 1,032 #5,468
2008 modern 1,028 #5,525
2009 modern 1,045 #5,576
2010 modern 1,050 #5,649
2011 modern 1,056 #5,559
2012 modern 1,051 #5,489
2013 modern 1,048 #5,613
2014 modern 1,066 #5,561
2015 modern 1,055 #5,554
2016 modern 1,037 #5,621

Geography

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Where Quins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, Paisley North, Powys, Hammersmith and Fulham and Leeds. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 006 Test Valley
2 Paisley North Renfrewshire
3 Powys 008 Powys
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 004 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Leeds 039 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Quin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Quin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Quin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Quin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quin is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Quin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Quin

The surname Quin has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "cuinn," meaning "wisdom" or "counsel." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for a wise or knowledgeable person.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Quin surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a notable figure named Muircheartach Quin, who was a prominent chieftain in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Quin family was well-established in County Clare, Ireland. The family held lands in the area and played a significant role in local politics and affairs. One notable member of the Quin family during this period was Sir Edward Quin (1558-1628), who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

The Quin surname also has connections to various place names in Ireland. For instance, the town of Quinville in County Clare is believed to have derived its name from the Quin family. Additionally, there are several townlands and parishes with names that incorporate the word "Quin," such as Quinpool and Quinworth.

Among the notable individuals with the Quin surname throughout history are:

1. Walter Quin (1575-1634), an Irish soldier and adventurer who served in the Spanish Army of Flanders and wrote a memoir of his experiences. 2. Windham Quin (1717-1805), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament who served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin. 3. Michael Quin (1796-1843), an Irish poet and translator who is known for his translations of ancient Greek and Latin works. 4. Edwin Richard Windham Quin (1808-1880), an English theologian and writer who served as the Vicar of Heston and published several religious works. 5. James Quin (1693-1766), an Irish actor who was one of the most famous and influential figures in the 18th-century English theater.

The Quin surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in Irish culture and tradition. While its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, the name has left an indelible mark on various aspects of society, from politics and literature to the arts and judiciary.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 793 Quins recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.83x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 793 7.83x
Durham 354 3.80x
Lancashire 321 0.86x
Renfrewshire 233 9.60x
Middlesex 192 0.61x
Northumberland 180 3.86x
Yorkshire 132 0.43x
Angus 104 3.59x
Midlothian 103 2.46x
Cumberland 90 3.34x
Surrey 71 0.47x
Dunbartonshire 64 7.61x
Ayrshire 53 2.26x
Stirlingshire 48 4.16x
Cheshire 45 0.65x
Kent 33 0.31x
West Lothian 33 7.00x
Warwickshire 30 0.38x
Gloucestershire 25 0.41x
East Lothian 18 4.34x
Hampshire 17 0.26x
Perthshire 17 1.21x
Roxburghshire 17 3.00x
Staffordshire 16 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 15 0.52x
Devon 15 0.23x
Sussex 14 0.27x
Monmouthshire 13 0.57x
Shropshire 12 0.44x
Derbyshire 11 0.22x
Argyllshire 10 1.15x
Channel Islands 10 1.08x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.24x
Glamorgan 9 0.17x
Leicestershire 8 0.23x
Lincolnshire 8 0.16x
Ross-shire 8 0.93x
Worcestershire 8 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 7 1.13x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.98x
Essex 6 0.10x
Fife 4 0.22x
Hertfordshire 4 0.19x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 0.88x
Clackmannanshire 3 1.16x
Northamptonshire 3 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.30x
Selkirkshire 3 1.06x
Somerset 3 0.06x
Berkshire 2 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.11x
Cornwall 2 0.06x
Denbighshire 2 0.17x
Dorset 2 0.10x
Peeblesshire 2 1.36x
Royal Navy 2 0.54x
Anglesey 1 0.18x
Cardiganshire 1 0.13x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.17x
Merionethshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 204 Quins recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.35x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 204 11.35x
Govan 202 8.07x
Barony 178 6.95x
Dundee 61 5.63x
Gateshead 60 8.61x
New Monkland 52 17.38x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 50 12.40x
Old Monkland 46 11.45x
Paisley Middle Church 40 28.32x
Liff Benvie 37 8.40x
Conside Knitsley 35 48.34x
Abbey 34 9.19x
Manchester 34 2.04x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 34 12.22x
Port Glasgow 33 28.14x
West Greenock 32 7.35x
Bishopwearmouth 31 3.88x
Elswick 28 7.53x
Newcastle On Tyne St 28 11.60x
Paisley High Church 26 13.46x
St Pancras London 26 1.03x
Liverpool 25 1.11x
Neilston 25 20.53x
Whitehaven 24 16.71x
Usworth 23 46.51x
Old Kilpatrick 22 22.13x
Clitheroe 21 19.21x
Kensington London 20 1.15x
Padiham 20 22.29x
Thornaby 20 17.25x
Cumbernauld 19 41.21x
Hamilton 19 6.73x
Arlecdon 18 25.12x
South Leith 18 3.81x
Hawick 17 13.40x
Leeds 17 0.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 17 27.76x
Birkenhead 16 2.90x
Birmingham 16 0.61x
Slamannan 16 25.31x
Washington 16 40.97x
Eastwood 15 10.04x
Shotts 15 12.38x
Islington London 14 0.46x
Lambeth 14 0.51x
Paddington London 14 1.22x
Preston 14 1.41x
Wallsend 14 9.48x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.57x
Bathgate 13 12.70x
Bishop Auckland 13 10.41x
Crosscanonby 13 14.59x
Eston 13 19.24x
Largs 13 23.56x
Westoe 13 2.46x
Heworth 12 6.54x
Iveston 12 27.97x
Kilbarchan 12 16.28x
Kirknewton 12 99.59x
Stirling 12 8.24x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 1.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 1.36x
Eccleston In Prescot 11 5.90x
Esh 11 16.23x
Gorbals 11 18.31x
North Shields 11 11.84x
St Marylebone London 11 0.66x
St Ninians 11 9.61x
West Derby 11 1.01x
Bedwellty 10 2.50x
Bromley London 10 1.45x
Broseley 10 20.81x
Cardross 10 9.90x
Dearham 10 28.13x
Edinburgh New 10 30.70x
Edinburgh New North 10 27.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 0.59x
Lesmahagow 10 9.34x
Tanfield 10 9.03x
Westminster St James 10 3.11x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Quin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Quin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 171
James 105
Thomas 72
Patrick 49
Michael 38
William 35
Edward 33
Joseph 31
Francis 24
George 23
Charles 18
Arthur 16
Peter 14
Richard 14
Henry 11
Alfred 9
Hugh 9
Robert 9
Martin 7
Owen 7
Bernard 6
Stephen 6
Daniel 5
Frank 5
Matthew 5
Walter 5
Andrew 3
Cornelius 3
David 3
Dennis 3
Felix 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Lawrence 3
Mark 3
Mathew 3
Michal 3
Pat 3
Samuel 3
Tho. 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Morris 2
Patt 2
Paul 2
Terance 2
Terence 2

FAQ

Quin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,223 people were recorded with the Quin surname. That placed it at #1,402 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,037 in 2016. That gives Quin a modern rank of #5,621.

What does the Quin surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cuinn referring to a descendant of Conn.

What does the Quin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Quin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.