O'Quinn
An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Quinn,” with the old prefix O’ marking paternal descent.
The #6,284 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 56,765 Americans shares it.
Etymology
O'Quinn is an anglicized Irish surname formed from the prefix O' (Irish Ó), meaning “descendant of,” plus Quinn, a surname from the Irish name Conn/Quinn traditions. In practice, it usually points to a family line associated with the personal name Quinn, commonly linked to the Irish Gaelic word céann or con, though the exact underlying root can vary by family branch. The spelling OQuinn reflects English-language rendering of the Irish form O'Quinn, with the apostrophe sometimes dropped in official records.
History
The name is found in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities, especially in the United States. Like many Irish surnames, it often lost its apostrophe in records, which is why OQuinn appears as a single word. Modern usage can represent either a retained Irish-style surname or a simplified spelling used in immigration and civil documentation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In U.S. records, apostrophes in Irish surnames were often dropped, so O'Quinn and OQuinn may refer to the same family line.