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Quirke History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Quirke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The distinguished surname Quirke 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 Quirke 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 Quirke 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 Quirke family

The surname Quirke 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 Quirke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quirke 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 Quirke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quirke 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 Quirke 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 Quirke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Quirke family to Ireland

Some of the Quirke 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.

Quirke migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Quirke:

Quirke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Quirke, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1849 6

Quirke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Quirke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Margaret Quirke, aged 4 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Sandon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 7
Ms. Mary Quirke, aged 23 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 7
Miss. Mary Quirke who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Sandon" departing 11th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 8
Miss. Mary Quirke, aged 7 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Triton" departing 14th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th July 1847 but she died on board 8
Mr. Michael Quirke who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Triton" departing 14th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th July 1847 but he died on board 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Quirke migration to Australia +

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

Quirke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Patrick Quirke, aged 40, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sultana" 9

Quirke 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:

Quirke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Bartholomew Quirke, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edwin Fox" in 1875
Mr. Patrick Quirke, (b. 1851), aged 28, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Stad Haarlem" arriving in Lyttleton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1879 10
Julia Quirke, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Quirke (post 1700) +

Edward F. Quirke, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 17th District, 1954 11
Michael James Quirke (b. 1991), English born Republic of Ireland U21 international footballer
Kieron Quirke, English writer, journalist, musician and theatre critic
Dillon Quirke (1998-2022), Irish hurler who played for Tipperary Senior Championship club Clonoulty-Rossmore and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team
Micheál Quirke (b. 1980), Irish sportsperson
Percival Hillam Quirke (1898-1972), Australian politician
John Quirke (b. 1950), South Australian parliamentarian
Johnny Quirke (1911-1983), Irish sportsperson
Alan Quirke (b. 1976), Irish sportsperson
Pauline Perpetua Quirke (b. 1959), British actress
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 52)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 93)
South Australian Register Saturday 4th February 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sultana 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sultana1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). 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