| ![Show Contents]() Quillen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Quillen is derived from the personal name Hugelin, which is a diminutive of Hugh. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Uighilin. Early Origins of the Quillen familyThe surname Quillen was first found in County Antrim (Irish: Aontroim) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland, where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the Anglo/Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. Specifically, "The MacQuillans were lords of the territory of the Routes, in co. Antrim, holding their chief residence in the fine old sea-girt castle of Dunluce." MacLysaght agrees "The MacQillans are of Norman-Welsh descent: they settled soon after the invasion in the territory called the Route (co. Antrim.)" 1 One of the first records of the family was Malcolm MacQuillan who died in 1307. Little is known of his heritage, but what we do know is that he was granted safe conduct by the English so he could assail Scottish forces, on Scotland's western seaboard, with his galley fleet. He was part of a fleet of eighteen galleys with 1,000 men who landed near Stranraer, now a town in southwest Scotland in Inch, Dumfries and Galloway. But, this force was quickly overwhelmed by local forces led by Dungal MacDouall. MacQuillan was captured and executed. His head and the heads from two Irish chiefs were sent back to King Edward I. Early History of the Quillen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quillen research. Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1307, 1315, 1442, 1485, 1542, 1559 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Quillen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Quillen Spelling VariationsChurch officials and medieval scribes often simply spelled names as they sounded. As a result, a single person's name may have been recorded a dozen different ways during his lifetime. Spelling variations for the name Quillen include: McQuillan, McQuillen, McQuillian, McQuillin, McQuillon, McCailin, McAilin, MacQuillian, MacQuillon, MacCaillion, MacQuillin, MacQuillan, McKillan, McQuilland, McAiland, McAylin, McCaillion, McKillion, McKillin, McKillon, MacKillan, MacQuilland, MacAyland, MacAilan, Quillan and many more. Early Notables of the Quillen familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was - In 1485, Rory MacQuillan founded a late Franciscan foundation named Bonamargy Friary situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. According to legend, the 17th century prophet and recluse Julie MacQui...
Quillen RankingIn the United States, the name Quillen is the 4,623rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2
 Quillen migration to the United States | + |
The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name Quillen:
Quillen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Michael Quillen, aged 48, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 3
Quillen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Morton H. Quillen, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
- Cecil Quillen, aged 20, who landed in America, in 1919
- Geo. Quillen, who immigrated to America, in 1919
- Harry Quillen, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1919
- Ralph Quillen, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1924
| Contemporary Notables of the name Quillen (post 1700) | + |
- Leon Abner "Lee" Quillen (1882-1965), American professional baseball third baseman
- Verni Robert Quillen (1887-1948), American journalist and humorist
- James Henry "Jimmy" Quillen (1916-2003), Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1963 to 1997
- Daniel Gray "Dan" Quillen (b. 1940), American mathematician awarded the Cole Prize in 1975 and the Fields Medal in 1978
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Quillen migration to the United States 
Ireland
Scotland
