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QUANTRELL Family History

This most interesting and unusual surname is of Old French origin, and is a nickname for an elegant person, someone who was noted for their fine, skilfully made and attractive dress, from the Old French, Middle English "cointerel", a beau; a derivative of "coint", knowing, clever, but which in French developed the sense "skilfully made, attractive". The modern surname, which is found particularly in the East Anglia area, is also spelt Quantrell and Quintrell in England. The surname is first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below), while other early examples include: William Cuinterell, who was recorded in the Curia Rolls of Somerset in 1214; William Queinterell, mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219; Adam le Coynterel appeared in Lancashire records in 1281; and Robert Quyntrel is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332.