The Rev. Patrick Woulfe's book, Irish Names and Surnames lists the following:
o cuineain - O Kinane, O Kynnan, Cunnane, Kinane, Kinnane, Guinane, Guinnane, Guinan, Quinane, Quenan, Queenane, &c; des of Cuinean (an attenuated form of Conan); a var. of O Coineain, q.v.; a common surname in many parts of Ireland. There is also a distinct surname O Cuinneain, q.v. (Page 489)
o cuinneain - I - O Kinnane, O Kynnan, Kinnane, Guinnane, Quinane, & c; des of Cuinnean (dim of Conn). This surname was in use in Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, and perhaps other places, but is now impossible to distinguish from O Cuineain, q.v. (Page 490).
The "Historic Families", manufacturers and supplies of Heraldic Goods, Aston House, Aston Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland supplied the following Quinane Blazon of Arms:
ARMS:
Gules a lion passant guardant or, in base a human heart arg. CREST:
A dexter cubit arm holding a flaming sword all ppr. MOTTO:
Fortiter et fideliter.
Bolding and faithfullyHere is a picture of this Quinane Family Crest:
The Historical Research Center has provided the following histories of the surnames KINNANE and QUEENAN:
BACKGROUND
It is impossible to say when the first hereditary families names originated although it is known that the Chinese society has had this type of name since the fourth century BC. In the Western world, the ancient Romans had the most sophisticated system of appellation, but this was lost after the fall of the empire. Ireland was the first European country to adopt hereditary surnames after the decline of Rome and they have been recorded there as early as the tenth century. At this time the Irish had converted to Christianity, while the rest of Europe was still in the Dark Ages. Literature and art flourished and the use of surnames allowed pedigrees of the noble families of Ireland to be recorded for posterity.
KINNANE
The Irish surname KINNANE is an anglicised form of the Gaelic "O'Cuinnain" and is found in counties of Tipperary in Munster and Sligo and Roscommon in Connacht. The name is of patronymic origin, being derived from the first name of a father. The suffix "-an" indicates that the surname is a diminutive form of the personal name. Thus, the surname literally denotes "the son of little Conan". In parts of the province of Connacht, the surname Cunnane is synonymous with this name. Cunnane evolved from the Gaelic "O Cuinneain" which denotes "the son of little Conn" and the name Kinnane is of similar origin. However, Kinnane is most numerous in Co. Tipperary. Cuinane is also a synonym of the surname Kinnane.
One Ally Kinnane, a thirty year old servant, sailed on board the "Thetis", from Limerick to New York in the year 1851 (Irish Famine Immigrants).
Blazon of Arms: Argent, a fesse sable cotised gules between
two fleurs-de-lis of the second.Translation: Argent (white) denotes Peace and Sincerity.
The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of Faith, Wisdom and Valour.Crest: A fleur-de-lis sable Origin: Ireland QUEENAN
The Irish surname Queenan is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "O Cuinneain" and is found in counties Sligo and Roscommon in Connacht. The name is of patronymic origin, being derived from the first name of a father. The suffix "-an" indicates that the surname is a diminutive form of the personal name. Thus, the surname literally denotes "the son of little Conan". In parts of the province of Connacht, the surname Cunnane is synonymous with this name, while other scholars believe that Queenan is an attenuated form of the surname Conan. Cunnane evolved from the Gaelic "O Cuinneain" which denotes "the son of little Conn" and the name Kinnane is of similar origin. However, Kinnane is most numerous in Co. Tipperary. Cuinane is also a synonym of the surname Queenan.
Blazon of Arms: Argent, a fesse sable, cotised gules, between two fleurs-de-lis of the second. Translation: Argent (white) denotes Peace and Sincerity.
The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of Faith, Wisdom and Valour.Crest: A fleur-de-lis sable as in the arms Origin: Ireland
The "Hall of Names" has provided the following history of the surname Quinane:
The Pictish race, one of the founding races of the British Isles, arrived in Scotland from Brittany about the 15th century BC The surname Quinane is believed to be descended from this race. Migrating from northwest France they .sailed northward to Ireland where they were refused permission to land, but they were allowed by the Kings or Ireland to locate in the eastern part or Scotland with the proviso that all their Kings marry Irish Princesses. According to the Venerable Bede, England's oldest historian, this established their matriarchal hierarchy, rare in the annals of British history.
Nechtan was the first recorded Pictland King, about 724 AD, although, according to Roman history, Pictish kings before him had fought gallantly at Hadrian's Wall against the Roman invasion many centuries before. Their rivals to the west, the Dalriadans or the highlanders of the Western Isles, were their constant foes -in the battle for supremacy for power over all Scotland, known then as Alba, or Caledonia.
Nechtan was finally expelled from Pictland by Alpin, half Dalriadan, half Pict, the result or a political marriage. Alpin's son Kenneth MacAlpine, son of Alpin, became the first recorded King of Scotland as we know it today. The Picts, compressed by the northern invasion of the Oradian Vikings from the north who penetrated as far south as Caithness, were left with a territory on the eastern coast of Scotland from Aberdeen, south to Edinburgh.
From some or the many early records researchers examined such documents as the Inquisitio, 1120 AD , the Black Book of the Exchequer, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, The Ragman Rolls, the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, and various cartularies of parishes in Scotland. From these archives they produced the early records of the name in Kincardineshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some .say well before the Norman Conquer and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD
The spelling of the surname Quinane was found in many different forms. Although your name Quinane occurred in many references from time to time- the, surname was spelt Conan, Conane, Conad, Connan, Connant, Conant, and some or these versions are still used today. These changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. For instance, one clanswoman was recorded being born as Moffit, married as Moffat, and the .spelling Moffett appeared on her headstone. Preferences for spelling variations either stemmed from a division of the family, had religious reasons, or sometimes patriotic reasons. Scribes and church people frequently selected their own version of what they thought the spelling should be.
The family name Quinane emerged as a Scottish Clan or family in this territory. More specifically they developed in their original territory or Kincardineshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated in the lands of Conan in the Mearns in that Shire. They are said to be descended from Conan of Glenorchy, the illegitimate son of Henry, Earl or Atholl. Conan of Balquhidder rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. They later acquired the lands of Tulloch and a toft at Kethyk in Forfar. Later they moved south to England and acquired Lyndon Hall in Rutland and Willoughby Hall. Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir Arthur Conant.
During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Scotland was ravaged by religious conflict. The newly found passionate fervour of Presbyterianism and the Church of Scotland rejected all who could not pass "The Test" of taking an oath or belief in the Church. Those failing the "Test" were frequently hanged, drawn and quartered in the High Street, or more kindly banished to the Colonies, to Australia or to the Carolinas.
Meanwhile, the Roman Church still fought to retain its status. Many Clansmen were freely "encouraged to migrate to Ireland. From 1603 to 1790, Scottish Clans and families were recruited from the English Scottish border and north of Edinburgh to populate northern Ireland with Protestant stock faithful to the new religion or the crown. Many heads or families migrated from Scotland to Ireland during this period. They became known as the "Scotch/Irish". In Ireland they .settled in Connacht where the name became a variant of Cunnane.
The migration or banishment to the New World also continued, some went voluntarily from Ireland, but most went directly from Scotland, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent. The sailed to the New World across the stormy Atlantic aboard the small .sailing ships known as the "White Sails". These overcrowded ships, sometimes spending two months at sea, were racked with disease, sometimes landing with only 60% or their original passenger lists.
In North America, some of the first migrants which could be considered kinsmen of the surname Quinane, or having a variation of the family surname spelling included Christopher Conant who settled in Plymouth Mass. in 1623; as did Roger and his wife in the same year; Roger Conant and his wife settled in Maine in 1623; Samuel Conant settled in Nantucket, Mass in 1823; Mr Conand settled in New Orleans La. In 1822; C Connan settled in New Orleans in 1821; James and Nancy Connan landed in New York state in 1823.
From the original ports of entry immigrants moved westward, some to the middle west, some across the prairies to the west coast. During the War of Independence allegiances were divided. Some remained American whilst others became United Empire Loyalists and moved to Canada.
The name was prominent in the arts, science, commerce and the professions. Many prominent people represent this notable name Quinane, James Bryan Conant, Ph.D., American Scientist, Educator and Author, New York state; Ralph Wendell Conant, Educator Texas.
In researching the family name Coat of Arms we traced the most ancient grant of Arms to the family name. However, other grants were made to different branches of the family which may be equally appropriate.
The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:
Silver with a Black Cross.
