Find out how popular the last name Quinlivan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Quinlivan.

Quinlivan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Quinlivan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quinlivan in America

Quinlivan is the 25865th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quinlivan surname appeared 951 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Quinlivan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quinlivan to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Quinlivan

The surname Quinlivan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Cuindlídhan, which means "descendant of the brown one." This name originated in County Clare, Ireland, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name appears in entries dating back to the 13th century, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

In the 16th century, the name was spelled in various ways, such as O'Quinlevan, O'Quinlivan, and O'Quinnilevan, reflecting the variations in the pronunciation and spelling of Irish names at that time.

One notable figure from history bearing this surname was Dermot Quinlivan, a Irish soldier who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars during the 17th century. He was a prominent commander in the Siege of Limerick in 1651.

Another significant individual was Patrick Quinlivan (1797-1878), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Savannah, Georgia, in the mid-19th century. He played a crucial role in the city's development during his tenure.

In the late 18th century, the name appeared in the Aran Islands, off the coast of County Galway, where a branch of the Quinlivan family settled. One notable member of this branch was John Quinlivan (1810-1890), a renowned Irish storyteller and seanchaí (traditional bearer of oral history and lore).

The name Quinlivan is also associated with the historic town of Ennis in County Clare. The Quinlivan family held a prominent position in the town's history, with several members serving as local officials and landowners.

Another notable figure was Father Michael Quinlivan (1845-1922), a Catholic priest from County Clare who played a significant role in the Irish Land War of the late 19th century, advocating for tenant farmers' rights and land reform.

Over the centuries, the Quinlivan name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, soldiers, and clergy, contributing to the rich tapestry of Irish history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quinlivan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Quinlivan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Quinlivan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Quinlivan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Quinlivan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Quinlivan, please contact us.

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