Contents [hide]

Quirk History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Quirk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England
Ireland

The distinguished surname Quirk emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterized by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent in England during the 14th century. The surname Quirk is derived from the Old French personal names Odes, Otes, Odon, and Otton. These are all derived from the Old German names Odo and Otto, which literally mean riches. 1 Occasionally, the name Quirk is a local surname derived from the settlement of Ott in Belgium. 2

Another source claims the name is occupational as in "a nickname for a Dealer in Oats." 3

Early Origins of the Quirk family

The surname Quirk was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Ode, Odo, Otho were recorded. 4 Later in Lincolnshire, Radulfus filius Ode was recorded in 1160 and later again, Willelmus filius Ote (Otte) was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Essex in 1177. In Suffolk, William Ode was registered in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1213. "Belchamp Otton (Essex) owes its attribute (Otes 1254, Oton 1255) to Otlo (temp. Hy 2), descendant of Otto or Odo 4. " 5

The Hundredorum Rolls for 1273 included entries as a forename and surname: Hotys de Parme, Lincolnshire; and Andreas Otes, Norfolk as did the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Otes de Howorth; and Johannes Oteson

In Ireland, the name is "a synonym by pseudo-translation of Quirke." (GIF)

Early History of the Quirk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quirk research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1177, 1213, 1275, 1610, 1646, 1649, 1654, 1666, 1674, 1683, 1697 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Quirk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quirk Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Oates, Oats, Otes, Otis, Oaten, Otten, Oadt, Otton, Oton and many more.

Early Notables of the Quirk family

Prominent in the family at this time was Titus Oates (1649-1705) English conspirator and perjurer who fabricated the Popish Plot and was fined for calling the Duke of York (the future James II) a traitor. He was the son of Samuel Oates (1610-1683), rector of Marsham in Norfolk and was born at Oakham in 1649. His father, the descendant of a family of Norwich ribbon-weavers, left the established church, and gained some notoriety as a ‘dipper’ or anabaptist in East Anglia in 1646. In 1649 he appears to have...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Quirk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quirk Ranking

In the United States, the name Quirk is the 6,203^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Quirk family to Ireland

Some of the Quirk family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quirk migration to the United States +

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Quirk:

Quirk Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Dennis Quirk, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
David Quirk, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 7
Richard Quirk, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 7
William Quirk, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 7

Quirk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nicholas Quirk, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 7
James Quirk, aged 23, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1834 7
Edward J Quirk, aged 26, who arrived in Missouri in 1839 7
Edmund Quirk, aged 35, who landed in Missouri in 1840 7
Thomas Quirk, who landed in New York in 1845 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Quirk migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Quirk Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mathew Quirk, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833
Eliza Quirk, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1839
Hannah Quirk, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1842
Patrick Quirk, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Quirk migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Quirk Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Samuel Quirk, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Duke of Wellington" 8
Ellen Quirk, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" 9
Mathew Quirk, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"
Andrew Quirk, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"
Patrick Quirk, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Quirk migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Quirk Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah Quirk, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 10
Eliza Quirk, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
Bartholomew Quirk, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877

Contemporary Notables of the name Quirk (post 1700) +

Lawrence J. Quirk (b. 1923), American Hollywood author, reporter, and film historian
Jamie Quirk (b. 1954), American Major League Baseball player
Michael J. Quirk, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 12 aerial victories
Frank J. Quirk, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Illinois State Senate 27th District, 1938 11
Frank Quirk, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Rensselaer County 1st District, 1932 11
Dorothy R. Quirk, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, 1977 11
Deb Hardin Quirk, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nebraska, 1996 11
Daniel Trowbridge Quirk (1903-1969), American politician, Mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1947-53 11
Daniel Lace Quirk (1818-1910), American Democratic Party politician, Wayne County Auditor, 1852-54; Postmaster at Belleville, Michigan, 1853-54 11
Catherine Quirk, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1942 11
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Quirk family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. George Andrew Quirk (1875-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 12

HMS Dorsetshire

William Thomas Quirk (d. 1945), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 13

RMS Lusitania

Mr. William Eduard Quirk, English Able-Bodied Seaman from Douglas, Isle of Man, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 14

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 5th January 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) David Malcolm 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/davidmalcolm1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/