Quill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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The old Scottish-Dalriadan name Quill is derived from the personal name William. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Uilleim, which means son of William.

Early Origins of the Quill family

The surname Quill was first found in on the Isle of Harris, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland.

Early History of the Quill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quill research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1187, 1215, 1613 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Quill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quill Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Quill include MacWilliam, MacQuilliam, MacKilliam, MacWilliams, MacKullie, MacCullie, MacWillie and many more.

Early Notables of the Quill family

More information is included under the topic Early Quill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quill Ranking

In the United States, the name Quill is the 16,040^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Quill family to Ireland

Some of the Quill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quill migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Quill were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Quill Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Quill, who settled in Boston in 1762
Thomas Quill, who was bound out as an apprentice in Philadelphia in 1771
Thomas Quill, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 2

Quill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Timothy Quill, who arrived in New York in 1848 2
John Quill, who was naturalized in Michigan in 1850
John Quill, who was naturalized in New Orleans in 1851
Denis Quill, who arrived in New York in 1853
John Quill, who arrived in Mississippi in 1857 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Quill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Quill Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Thomas Quill U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

Quill Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Quill, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834
Thomas Quill, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Catherine Quill, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland

Quill migration to Australia +

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

Quill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ellen Quill, (b. 1837), aged 14, Irish country servant who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 15 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Miss Mary Quill, (b. 1836), aged 15, Irish nursery maid who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 15 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1879 4

Quill 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:

Quill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Quill, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 5
Mr. William Quill, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 5
Mr. Maurice Quill, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Quill (post 1700) +

Eric Quill (b. 1978), American soccer player
Gene Quill (1927-1989), American jazz musician
Michael Joseph Quill (1905-1966), American labor leader born in County Kerry, Ireland. Quill was active in the movement for Irish independence before emigrating to the United States in 1926
Greg Quill (1947-2013), Australian-born, Canadian musician, singer, songwriter and journalist at the Toronto Star
Timothy Quill (1901-1967), Irish Labour Party politician
Máirín Quill (b. 1936), former Irish Progressive Democrats politician
Jeffrey Kindersley Quill (1913-1996), British Royal Air Force officer