Quirke

Quirke is an Irish family name which has spread throughout the English-speaking world.

Origins

The name is most common in County Tipperary and County Limerick [Irish family names: arms, origins, and locations - Brian De Breffny, Dublin, 1982.] . It is believed that the name was given to a small and unimportant clan when they fought bravely with Olchobar, the king of Cashel, against the Vikings at Cork.

The name "Quirke" is an Anglicized form of the Irish name of "Cuirc," which comes from the Irish language 'croí', meaning 'heart' or 'bravery' [The Surnames of Ireland - Edward McLysaght, Irish Acad. Press, 1985.] . Before the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, the Quirke clan ruled over a considerable territory in the barony of Clanwilliam in the southwest of County Tipperary, known as Maigh Cuirc, the plain of the Quirkes.

Due to the specific incidences of the name in Ireland, there is no evidence which supports claims that the name is related either to a similar Manx name or the Scottish name 'Kirk'.

Various spellings:

Quirk, O'Quirk, O'Quirke

Related names:
Quick
Oates: arising from a mistaken Anglicisation of the Irish 'cearc', meaning 'oat.'

Notable Individuals with the surname Quirke:

Pauline Quirke - is an English actress

Micheál Quirke - is an Irish Gaelic footballer

Kieron Quirke - theatre critic residing in Los Angeles, California
John Quirke - a South Australian parliamentarian.

Aideen Quirke - an emerging Irish artist of the Crawford School of Art in Cork City.