Surname Quillen - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Quillen Lineage: A Personal Voyage with iGENEA DNA Test

Embarking on a genealogical journey with the iGENEA DNA test, learning about the Irish roots of the Quillen surname, and discovering a community of Quillens in the process, brings an enriching, enlightening, yet user-friendly experience to personal ancestry exploration.

P. Quillen

Quillen: What does the surname Quillen mean?

Quillen is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "O Cuilleain," where "O" signifies a male descendant and "Cuilleain" means holly or holly grove. The surname initially symbolized a family that occupied an area where holly trees were abundant. Holly was historically regarded as a sacred plant in Gaelic culture due to its durability and evergreen nature, symbolizing resilience and survival. Over time, as descendants spread out while continuing to identify with their root family, the name evolved into several variations such as Quillin, Quilligan, Cullen, and Quillen. Therefore, the Quillen surname carries a rich cultural history, honoring Irish tradition and the connection to nature.

Quillen: Where does the name Quillen come from?

The surname Quillen is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Old Gaelic name "O' Cuileannain", with the prefix "O'" indicating "descendant of", plus "cuileann", a personal byname meaning "holly". During the 17th century, under English rule, the spelling of many Irish surnames was changed, leading to a variety of forms. Quillen is one such form, while others include Quillan, Quillinan, and Quillinane.

Today, Quillen is most common in the United States, particularly in the regions of the South and Midwest. Though less common, there are also families with the Quillen surname in Canada, Australia, and the UK. Despite its Irish origins, the surname is less prevalent in present-day Ireland due to historical emigration, but some families bearing the name still reside there. Although not one of the most common surnames, the Quillen name is represented in a variety of fields, including business, academia, and entertainment.

Variations of the surname Quillen

The surname Quillen, which is of Irish origin, has several variants and interchangeable spellings. These include Quillan, Quillin, Quilliam, Quill, and Quillian.

The name may have been anglicized from the original Gaelic "O'Cuill" or "MacCuill," meaning descendent or son of Coll. The pronunciation would likely have been modified over time and adapted to different regional accents, leading to the various different spellings we see today.

Sometimes, the letters 'a' or 'o' might precede the name to signify "son of" or "descendent of." As such, the surnames O'Quillen or O'Quillan could also be seen.

Another related surname is McQuillan or MacQuillan, which directly translates to "son of Quillan."

When Irish families emigrated to English-speaking countries, many chose or were forced to change their surnames to more anglicized versions, which may account for the wide variety of spellings in use for this surname.

Lastly, it's also essential to acknowledge the regional variants – for instance, Quillen might be more common in the United States, while Quilliam might be prevalent in the United Kingdom.

Famous people with the name Quillen

• Diane Quillen Childers, American politician
• Forrest Quillen, basketball player
• Henry Quillen, American politician
• Jeffrey Quillen, businessman
• Maj. Gen. James Quillen, United States Marine Corps
• Jimmy Quillen, American politician
• Lester Quillen, American politician
• Marisa Quillen, British singer-songwriter
• Michael Quillen, American award-winning business technologist
• Liam Quillen, retired professional basketball player
• Michael Quillen, Actor, Director, Producer and Voice Over Artist
• Paulette Quillen, American actress
• Rob Quillen, American entrepreneur
• Russell Quillen, retired professional basketball player
• Skip Quillen, American politician
• Warren Quillen, American violinist
• William Quillen, jr., American aerospace and defense executive
• Adrienne Quillen, environmental chemistry professor
• Dr. Richard Quillen, head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Darrell Quillen, Graphic Designer and Visual Artist

Other surnames

QuillanQuilliam