Surname Quintin - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling the History of Quintin: A Deep-Dive into My DNA Ancestry with iGENEA

Receiving deliciously detailed chronicles of my lineage from iGENEA's DNA analysis was a transformative moment. From the confines of my living room, I could wander across time, following the trails of my ancestors. As I unwrapped the history of the Quintin name, I unraveled a fascinating narrative, featuring ancient Celts, Roman influences, migrations, and more.

O. Quintin

Quintin: What does the surname Quintin mean?

The last name Quintin is of both French and English origin. It is derived from the Latin name Quintinus, from the Latin word “quintus”, meaning five. In the Middle Ages, or the period between the 5th and 15th century, the Quintin last name was common among the French aristocracy and English landholders. In England, the name was often used to refer to someone from the village of Quintin in Normandy. The Norman influence brought the Quintin name to England after the Norman conquest in 1066.

In France, people who bore the surname Quintin were nobility who held large tracts of land, often acting as officers of the crown in various important roles. In some cases, the name was used to refer to an individual who had acquired a title or rank, such as a knight or baron, usually as a reward for loyal service. The coat of arms of the Quintin family features a white and black divided shield, with three silver lions rampant. The motto of the Quintin family is “Fidelitate et Constantia” (fidelity and constancy).

Today, the Quintin last name is most commonly used as a given name, as a shortened form of Quintinus, or as a surname to denote a historical link to the aristocratic French families of long ago. The Quintin name can still be found in the United States and Europe, though it is much less common than it once was.

Quintin: Where does the name Quintin come from?

The last name Quintin is a French name of Germanic origin with the prefix "quint" meaning five. This surname has been recorded in France since the 12th century and was likely derived from an ancestor who was the fifth son in his family. Today, Quintin is still common in France and to a lesser extent in Belgium, Canada, and Luxembourg. In the United States, there are notable numbers of people of French descent who carry this surname. The estimated number of persons living with the Quintin last name in the U.S. is 6,410. California, Florida, and New York are the states with the largest population of persons with this last name.

Outside of Europe and the U.S., Quintin can be found in the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The surname appears to be most widespread in French-speaking countries all around the globe, including former French colonies such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Cameroon.

Tracing the origin of a last name such as Quintin can provide an interesting glimpse into the history of a family, including their migration routes. Knowing a surname's origin can also provide clues to the ancestral occupation choices of the past.

Variations of the surname Quintin

Quintin is a surname with several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. Quinat, Quinatte, Quenot, Quenotte, Quinette, Quenette, Quenot, Quenotte, Quintain, Quintaine, and Qunitin are among the most common variants. Other less common variants include Quinet, Quenet, Quenot, Quenotte, Quinette, Quinten, Quinnett, Quinlan, and Quinotti.

The name likely originates from the Latin quinque, meaning "five." This indicates that it might have been derived from an ancestor's occupaion as a merchant, as "five" implies a balance sheet kept by a retailer dealing in five shillings.

In France, the name is also thought to derive from the word quinzaine, which means "sixteenth," as it might have been originally used to name someone born on the 16th day of the month.

In Ireland, Quinlan and Quinlivan are two common surnames derived from Quintin, both meaning "descendant of Conall" (from the Gaelic name Conall). Quinlan and Quinlivan are also common in Scotland, sometimes spelled Quinlin and Quinlon.

These various spellings and surname variations are likely the result of unstandardized spelling among historical record-keepers at the time of Quintin's origins. While Quintin may have started off as a single-spelling surname, regional distinctions were eventually created over time due to the changing spellings and pronunciations among families living in different parts of Europe.

Famous people with the name Quintin

• Anne-Marie Quintin: Canadian actress best known for her roles in films such as Twenty Bucks and Un bronzage intégral.
• Charles Quintin: French actor who won the 2018 Prix d’Interprétation Masculine at the Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of Emilio in the short film Fish out of Water.
• Denise Quintin: French singer and actress who was best known for her starring role in the national tour of Cabaret in the late 1990s.
• Katherine Quintin: British actress who starred in the BBC radio soap opera The Archers from 1987 to 2008.
• Maurice Quintin: French actor who won the César Award for Best Actor in 2006 for his role in the crime thriller The Intruder.
• Pierre Quintin: Canadian actor and comedian, best known for his appearances on shows such as The Kids in the Hall, Murdoch Mysteries, and Letterkenny.
• Sébastien Quintin: French actor, best known for his roles in the films Ablations and Les saveurs du Palais.
• Vincent Quintin: Belgian actor known for starring in the films La Cage dorée and Les Sanglots du diable.

Other surnames

QuintQuintanaQuintenQuinteroQuintesQuintingQuintonQuinttusQuintus