Surname Quickley - Meaning and Origin
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Quickley: What does the surname Quickley mean?
The meaning of the last name Quickley is not entirely certain. It is thought to be of English origin, derived from the Middle English term "quickelay," meaning a type of rabbit or hare. It is also possible that it is derived from Old French terms indicating a person who moved quickly or was nimble.
The surname could also be from a place name, such as Cwicclay in Oxfordshire, England. The name originally derived from the Old English "cwic," which means "alive" and "leah," which means "woodland clearing." It appears that this place was named for its resident hare population.
Ultimately, the last name Quickley could be associated with many different origins and meanings. It could mean "one who moves quickly," be connected to a place where there are hares, or have an entirely different cultural meaning connected to the original terms its derived from in England, France, or elsewhere. It's interesting to note that even though many generations have passed since the original meaning was coined, the surname has maintained its original resonance.
Order DNA origin analysisQuickley: Where does the name Quickley come from?
The last name Quickley is most commonly found in the United States and the United Kingdom today. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Oregon. In the United Kingdom, it is most commonly found in England and Wales.
As of the 2020 United States Census, 8,119 individuals are estimated to carry the Quickley surname. The vast majority of these individuals (6,977) live in the United States, with the remaining 1,142 living in the United Kingdom.
The Quickley surname can be traced back to the Middle English word "quickly" which is derived from Old English and literally translates to "living life quickly." This is one of the many surnames derived from common English words, suggesting that the Quickley family traces its roots to the English Language.
The Quickley surname is more prominent in the United States than in the United Kingdom, suggesting that the Quickley family has been in the United States for a longer period of time than in the United Kingdom. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the United Kingdom continues to be an attractive immigration destination, whereas the United States is believed to have been home to the Quickley surname for generations.
As such, the last name Quickley is most prominently found in the United States and the United Kingdom today.
Variations of the surname Quickley
The surname Quickley is an English name that can be spelled in various ways, including Quikly, Quickly, Quicklye, Quicklee, Quikely and Quicklee.
The surname Quickley is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word 'quik' which meant fast or brisk. It is derived from Old English 'cwic', which meant living. The name is thought to have been given to someone who was swift or rapid, perhaps a messenger or a messenger courier.
There are also variants of the name Quickley such as Quickly, Quikly and Quicklee. The English origin of these variants points to the same occupation - that of a messenger or courier.
In some cases, the surname Quickley has been anglicised to spellings like Quikely or Quicklee. This could be due to the difficulty of pronouncing the original form of the name or to assimilate into a new culture or environment.
There are also several common surnames of similar origin that are often used interchangeably with Quickley, such as Quickel, Quesnel and Quirk. All these surnames have the same etymological root, deriving from the Old English 'cwic' which meant living or alive. These names were most likely given to someone who was swift or resourceful.
In recent years, the surname Quickley has become increasingly popular due to its dual meaning of fast and alive. This popularity has spurred other variants and spellings of the name, allowing families to adopt the name and create their own variants and spellings to fit their individual needs.
Famous people with the name Quickley
- Immanuel Quickley: American professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Cliff Quickley: American actor and voice actor that is best known for voicing Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars video game series from 2010 to 2012.
- Alex Quickley: American professional golfer currently playing on the PGA Tour.
- Mary Elizabeth Quickley: Australia-based entrepreneur and business executive.
- Barry Quickley: Retired Australian rules footballer, playing for East Fremantle in the West Australian Football League.
- Kenneth Quickley: American country music artist who signed to BNA Records in 2009.
- Joe Quickley: English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Fulham.
- Nancy Quickley: American rower, three-time Olympian, five-time World Champion, and six-time National Champion.
- Tom Quickley: Retired American basketball player, who had a brief NBA career in 1988.
- William Quickley: Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Cloyne from 1930 to 1959.