Surname Quinton - Meaning and Origin

Quinton: What does the surname Quinton mean?

The last name Quinton is believed to have originated in England. It is derived from the Medieval French words 'quint' and 'tone', meaning "the fifth estate", and is trademarked to a period of feudalism when the ownership of land was organised in five classes. During this time, those who possessed the surname likely held the estate of a squire or a knight.

There are also records of the name being used as a status symbol, to indicate the fifth son of noble or aristocratic parents, or to identify a family’s fifth estate. In some cases, those bearing the Quinton name may have originally been farmers who owned an estate that contained five ploughs and repeatedly and clearly marked out boundaries.

Despite its origin, the present-day Quintons may have a variety of occupations, and may hail from practically any nation around the world granted it was not adopted as a first name natively. The surname is recognised across England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia and the United States. In most countries the name is considered uncommon or rare.

Today, the name Quinton may still be reminiscent of its proud and long-standing association with knighthood, feudalism, land ownership and estates. For some, it could evoke images of knights and honourable warriors, while for others, it may simply bring to mind the values of the family are associated the name: strength, courage, and loyalty.

Quinton: Where does the name Quinton come from?

The last name Quinton is commonly found today in many English-speaking countries. The most dominant regions are the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, the name is most common in the south-east of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Surrey.

In the United States, the name is most prevalent in the South, with small pockets of the population in other regions. It is notably found in the states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. In Canada, the name is most commonly found in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

In Australia, the name is sometimes found in Western Australia and Victoria. It is found mainly around cities such as Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. In New Zealand, the name is mainly found around the cities of Auckland and Wellington.

Most people with the last name Quinton are likely descended from an ancestor with the same surname. It is generally believed to be of English origin, but it could also be derived from the French word queue, meaning tail.

Variations of the surname Quinton

The surname Quinton has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Quintin, Quinten, Quenten and Quenton. Quenton is also sometimes spelled as Quenton or Quanton. Less common variants include Quintyn, Quintyne, Quintaine, Quentine, Quentyn and Quentine.

The surnames of the same origin that are related to Quinton include Quintanilla, Quintenilla, Quintana, Quintock, Quesinberry, Quist, Quickel, Quiones, Quirante, Quincella, Quigg, Quimet, Quemby, Quinby, and Quinnipiac.

In some countries, the surname Quinton has been historically adapted to include other spellings or even a combination of the letters “u” and “i” which results in the alternative spellings “Quuiton” and “Quiutin”. However, these variants are not as widely used as the other spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The name Quinton is derived from the Latin word “quintus” meaning “fifth”. It was typically given to the fifth child of a family and could also be found as the surname of a wealthy family in certain regions. Originally, the name was derived from a division of land into five parts, called a quinta.

People with the surname Quinton can be found in several countries and regions around the world, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname originated in Scotland and Ireland and is still common there today.

Famous people with the name Quinton

• Dilys Laye: British actress
• Eugene Quinton: Native American Apache Indian, a teacher and medicine man
• Georges Quinton: French cinematographer and actor
• Henry Quinton: Magistrate for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Isabelle Quinton: French film, television, and stage actress
• Joseph John Quinton: British physicist, mathematician and inventor
• Leroy Quinton: American musician, songwriter and producer
• Lucien Quinton: French ornithologist
• Marc Quinton: French medical radiologist
• Pierre Quinton: French professor of philosophy
• Richard Quinton: British actor
• Robert Quinton: New York United States House of Representatives
• Sergio Quinton: American rancher
• Warren Quinton: Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force
• William Quinton: United States Supreme Court law clerk

Other surnames

QuintQuintanaQuintenQuinteroQuintesQuintinQuintingQuinttusQuintus