QUICK

The surname Quick is of English origin and first appears in medieval records in the twelfth century. It is derived from the Old English word cwic, meaning “alive” or “lively”. The name was originally employed as a nickname for a person who was quick‑witted, agile or otherwise vivacious in character. Over time it became a hereditary surname and has been passed down through successive generations in England.

Early evidence of the surname is found in the Yorkshire Pipe Rolls of 1179, which record the name Afwardus de Quike. This dates to the reign of King Henry I, who ruled from 1154 to 1189 and was celebrated as the “Builder of Churches”. The reference to Afwardus de Quike provides the earliest firmly established spelling of the family name in the British Isles.

While the primary interpretation of Quick reflects an individual’s spirit or speed, alternative explanations have been recorded. One proposed derivation is a topographical one, linking the surname to vegetation or trees that were seen as “lively” in the Old English sense. For instance, the term cwice referred to couch grass, cwictreow to the aspen tree whose trembling leaves were considered animistic, and cwicbeam to poplar, a species often utilised in the construction of quickset hedges.

A distinct yet similarly spelled surname, Quicke, has also been interpreted as a topographical designation for a resident of an outlying dairy farm. This reading combines the Old English elements cu (cow) and wic (outlying settlement). Additionally, there is a Cornish connection: the word gwyk means a wood, and the surname Quick may have been used to describe someone living in or near a wooded area.

The name is associated with documented Christian families in England. A notable record is the marriage of John Quick and Martha Ware, which was entered into the register of Harefield in London on 23 September 1637. This entry confirms the continued use of the surname within the English population during the early modern period.

Throughout its history, the surname Quick has remained a compact but distinctive marker of English heritage. Its etymological roots in the Old English word for “alive” and its potential topographical associations reflect a rich tapestry of meanings that have endured in the annals of British onomastics.

Typical given names associated with the Quick surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Robert
• Thomas

Female

• Caroline
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Julie
• Louise
• Margaret
• Mary
• Michelle
• Patricia
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Quick in...

Braille

⠟⠥⠊⠉⠅

Morse

--.-..-..-.-.-.-

Semaphore

Surname type: Nickname

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Quick

• Diana Quick - Actress
• John Quick - Australian politician and author (1852 to 1932)
• Arnold Quick - Cricketer (1915 to 1990)
• Chris Quick - Scottish film editor

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

Your comments on the Quick surname