QUINCE
Quince is an English locational or topographic surname, originating from the Middle‑English word quyns, which means "quince tree". The name was traditionally applied to individuals who lived near or worked with quince trees, a fruit‑bearing plant that bears fragrant, yellow fruit resembling a pear.
The surname has medieval French roots and is sometimes described as an Anglo‑French surname. Its earliest form was derived from the villages of Quincy‑sous‑Senart, Quincy‑Voisins, or Cuinchy in France, all of which trace their names to the pre‑3rd‑century Gallo‑Roman personal name Quintas, meaning "fifth born", and to the name of a prominent Roman clan. The name entered England with the followers of Duke William of Normandy at the time of the Conquest in 1066. It appears among the earliest recorded surnames in England, with variants such as de Quincey, Quince, Quincey, Quinsee and Quinsey.
Early documentary evidence of the surname includes the name Henri de Quenci in the Danelaw documents of 1154, and the marriage record of Bennet Quince to Thomas Gee on 14 December 1592, at St. Dunstan's in Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name appears in the 12th‑century Knight Templar records, where a Saer de Quincy is noted between 1153 and 1163. In the 13th century, members of the Quince family held the earldom of Winchester.
Among the most noted bearers of the surname is the English writer Thomas de Quincey (1785–1859), born in Manchester. He is remembered for his literary works, which reflect the rich historical associations of his family name with both England and France.
Typical given names associated with the Quince surname
Male
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- Edward
- Graham
- James
- John
- Mark
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Danielle
- Dawn
- Deborah
- Donna
- Doreen
- Emma
- Julie
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
- Tracey
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 Quince in...
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There are approximately 730 people named Quince in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,385th most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Quince.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Quince
- Will Quince - Politician
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.