Quantrill - what does Quantrill surname mean?
This interesting surname, with variant spellings Quantril, Quantrell, Quaintrell and Queintrell, is of early medieval English origin, and is from a nickname for an elegant person, deriving from the Middle English, Old French `cointerel`, a derivative of `coint` meaning `skilled, attractive`. A sizeable group of early European surnames were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were given in the first instance with reference to occupation, or to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, supposed resemblance to an animal`s or bird`s appearance or disposition, or to habits of dress. The surname dates back to the late 12th Century (see below), and further early recordings include: William Queinterell, in the 1219 Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire; Robert Quyntrel, in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex; and John Queyntrell, vicar of Ormsby, who appeared as a witness in the Feet of Fines of Norfolk in 1473. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the marriage of Margaret Quintrell and John Nichols on August 20th 1640, at St. Dunstan`s, Stepney; the marriage of John Quentrell and Elizabeth Austin on March 30th 1644, also at St. Dunstan`s, Stepney; and the marriage of Elizabeth Quantrill and John Biford on November 7th 1738, at St. Benet`s, Paul`s Wharf. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailric Cointerell, which was dated 1196, in the `Pipe Rolls of Cornwall`, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as `The Builder of Churches`, 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to `develop` often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
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