Surname Queen - Meaning and Origin

Reimagining Heritage & Identity Through the iGENEA DNA Test: The Resonance of the Surname 'Queen'

The iGENEA DNA test was a journey of self-discovery that redefined my sense of belonging and identity. It revealed fascinating insights into my past, particularly the prominence of the surname 'Queen' in my lineage, reshaping my understanding of myself and my heritage.

B. Queen

Queen: What does the surname Queen mean?

The surname Queen most likely has British origins with various possible meanings. One theory is that it derives from an Old English pre-7th century word, "cwen", which originally meant a woman, but later was often used to mean a wife or a queen. The name could have been a profession-based surname for a servant working in a royal household. It may also be an affectionate or even sarcastic nickname for a person who had a regal bearing or who played the part of the queen in a medieval pageant. Another theory suggests it could be a locational surname from a place named "Queen" or "Queen's." As with all surnames, the exact origin and meaning of the last name Queen can be difficult to determine due to the complex history of surname evolution.

Queen: Where does the name Queen come from?

The surname Queen is of Scottish and Irish origin. It emerged during the Middle Ages in the Scottish county of Dumfriesshire, with the first records of the name attributed to the Queens of Longwood. The term itself comes from the Old English word “cwen,” meaning a "woman," but it was often used in a more specific sense to denote a "wife." In Ireland, it's an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cuinn, meaning 'descendant of Conn'. The surname spread to Ireland in the Middle Ages and to America and other English-speaking countries later on through immigration.

Today, this surname is most common in the United States, especially heavily populated states such as California, Texas, and New York. In terms of frequency, it is ranked as the 938th most common surname in the United States. However, based on ancestry data, it's also fairly prevalent amongst populations in Scotland and Ireland, as well as in Canada and Australia due to historical movements and immigration patterns.

Variations of the surname Queen

The surname Queen has multiple variations and alternate spellings due to its spread across different countries and cultures. The primary spelling remains "Queen", but other forms comprise "Queane", "Quene", "Queene", "Quean", "Quein", and "Queyn".

The surname is largely rooted in English and Scottish history, but also has a Jewish origin. The Scottish form of the surname can also be "MacQueen" or "MacSween", signifying "son of Queen" or "son of Sween", with "Sween" likely being a personal name. In Jewish communities, the surname may appear as "Koen", "Kohn", "Cohn", "Cohen", or "Coen".

The surname also appears fused with other words, as in "McQueen", an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Cuinn meaning ‘son of Conn’. Some other less common variants are "Quinn" and "Quine".

It's also worth noting that in many cases, the surname "Queen" could be a topographic name for someone who lived near a queen's dwelling or a name given to someone serving in the queen's household.

Additionally, due to phonetic similarities, the surname "Queen" may sometimes be confused with or misspelled as "Quinn", "Green", or "Queens".

Famous people with the name Queen

• Ellery Queen: This is a pseudonym used by two American writers who wrote detective fiction. Their real names were Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee.
• Ivy Queen: She is a well-known Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom.
• Nick Queen: He was a professional Major League Baseball player.
• Joseph Queen: He is album producer for famous artists such as Alicia Keys.
• Larry Queen: A professional American football player.
• Queen Latifah: An award-winning actress, singer, and producer, although Queen isn't her real surname, she has made it famous worldwide.
• Queen Ida: A Grammy-winning accordionist who helped popularize zydeco music.
• Ava DuVernay: An American filmmaker whose full name is Ava Marie DuVernay-Queen.
• Queen Naija: An American singer and YouTuber.
• Brian May, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury, and Roger Taylor were members of the rock band called Queen.
• Queena Kim: She is an American journalist with a background in radio and online journalism.

Other surnames

Queene