The Shield is: Per pale ermine and or, two lions rampant combatant
between a mullet surmounted of a crescent in chief and a dexter hand
couped at the wrist and erect in base all gules.
The Crest is: A stork azure pierced through the body with an arrow argent.
The motto is: "True to the End."
Variant spellings for Quinlan: O'Quinlan, O'Quinlivans, Quinlin, Kindellan, Kindlon,
Quinlevan, Quinlivan, Connellan, Conlan.
Gaelic spelling: "O Caoindealbain", meaning 'gracefully shaped'.
The Quinlan, Quinlivan, and Kindellan families of Ireland can all stem from the same Irish family of O'Caoindealbain, which was subsequently translated into the English forms given above. They are a noted family of the Ui Neill tribes, found anciently centered in Co. Meath, and the senior line of the descendants of Laoghaire, King of Ireland in St. Patrick's day. Here the name is found as Kindellan and Connellan at times. (These Kindellans are also found in Spain in the 17th century, and that spelling is found there into modern times).
The family suffered as did most others, with the coming of the 12th century Norman invasions, but they were not immediately dispossessed of all their land and powers until the time of James II of Ireland.
The variant spelling of "Quinlivan" is most associated with Co. Clare, as evidenced by the 13 births recorded there in the 1890 index. "Quinlin" was given as a principal name of Tipperary in the census of 1659, and Quinlan remained as the favored spelling of the name in 1890 with Tipperary and Kerry being centers for the name at that time. Kindlon is also said to be a variant spelling of the name in Co. Louth.
In Keatings History we find "O'Quinlivans, some of whom have changed their name to Quinlan, are numerous in Tipperary and Limerick".
Several of the name are found in military service, as are James and Francis Quinlan who served in Meaghers Irish Brigade in the the New York Volunteers. Timothy Francis Quinlan (b.1861), the Australian politician, was born in Co. Tipperary.
Arms for the name are found on plates 241 and 167 in the Irish Book or Arms.
Source: The Book of Irish Families Great & Small
Michael C. O'Laughin
1997 Irish Genealogical Foundation
