QUIN

Quin is a surname and given name of Gaelic origin. As a surname, Quin derives from the Irish Ó Cuinn or Ó Cuin, meaning "descendant of Conn," with Conn being an old personal name often associated with "chief" or "leader." The form Quin is one of several Anglicized spellings of the same patronymic and is closely related to the surname Quinn. The name appears in medieval Irish records and spread to other English-speaking regions through emigration, particularly to the United States and Britain.

As a given name, Quin is used in some English-speaking communities. It can function as a standalone name or serve as a shortened form of Quentin, Quintus, or other names. In many contexts Quin is more common for males but is also used as a unisex name.

Variants and related forms include Quinn, O’Quin, and Ó Cuinn. The spelling Quin is typically a distinct variant of the same root rather than a completely separate origin, though genealogical histories may vary by family.

In contemporary usage, Quin appears in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere, reflecting patterns of Irish diaspora. Beyond people, Quin may appear as a character name in fiction and as a surname in geographic or institutional names. The name’s exact distribution and usage can vary regionally and over time.