# Quilty

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Quilty
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Quilty.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilty
> Source revision: 1332027725
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

For the town in Ireland, see [Quilty, County Clare](/source/Quilty,_County_Clare).

**Quilty** is an [Irish](/source/Irish_people) family name which has spread throughout the [English](/source/English_language)-speaking world.

## Origins and history

The name "Quilty" is an Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name of "Caoilte" (pronounced: Kweelteh). There was a mythic Celtic warrior (c. 3rd Century A.D.) by the name of [Caílte mac Rónáin](/source/Ca%C3%ADlte_mac_R%C3%B3n%C3%A1in), who was a member of the [Fianna](/source/Fianna) and the nephew of [Fionn mac Cumhaill](/source/Fionn_mac_Cumhaill). According to legend he lived long enough to be baptized by [St. Patrick](/source/St._Patrick) (c.389-461). The book "If You're A Wee Bit Irish: a chart of old Irish families collected from folk tradition" by William Durning (1978) recounts an alleged ancestry of Caoilte back to Adam. [James Joyce](/source/James_Joyce) (1882–1941) in chapter twelve of his masterpiece, [Ulysses](/source/Ulysses_(novel)), (1922) has "The tribe of Caolte" as one of the twelve tribes of Ireland in a biblical parallel to the twelve tribes of Israel.[citation needed] The name is considered a sept of the dynastic [Dál gCais](/source/D%C3%A1l_gCais) of the [Kingdom of Thomond](/source/Kingdom_of_Thomond), and has the motto "Lámh Ládir an Nachtar" meaning "the strong hand uppermost."

There are various spellings of the name: Caoilte, Caolte, and Cuallta in [Gaelic](/source/Irish_Gaelic), and Kielty, Kealty, Keelty, Keilty, Kelty, Kilty, and Quilty (with or without an O' or Mc or Mac) in English. The most common variants are Kielty and Quilty.

The surname Quilty has no connection to the Irish word *coillte* or *caol*, which some have stipulated. Edward MacLysaght writes in his 1964 book *Supplement to Irish Families*, that Quilty is a Munster name that has been mistakenly translated from the Irish word *caol (*slender) or *coillte*—plural of Irish word *coill* (wood).[1] Coillte is the namesake of a town named [Quilty](/source/Quilty,_County_Clare) located in the [County Clare](/source/County_Clare). Sources from the 14th and 15th century have the spelling as *O'Kilte* but ones from the 16th century onwards have spellings as *Quilty*, *O'Quiltye*, or other variants. While according to MacLysaght other alternatives for the names such as Kielty are found in the County [Offaly](/source/County_Offaly), [Roscommon](/source/County_Roscommon), [Galway](/source/County_Galway), and [Tyrone](/source/County_Tyrone); while MacQuilty in the County [Antrim](/source/County_Antrim). According to MacLysaght "I have not discovered its origin, but it is presumably unconnected with O'Quilty."[1]

### Oldest Documented Quiltys

Some sources say that the oldest referenced Quilty is in the [Annals of Ulster](/source/Annals_of_Ulster) in the year 1169.[2] Where a "Muiredach Ua Cellaig" is referenced. However the last name "Ua Cellaig" is an old form of the last name [Kelly](/source/Kelly_(surname)) or Kelley rather than Quilty.[1][3][4]

The first documented reference of a Quilty is given in a 1313 Justiciary Roll under the reign of [Edward II](/source/Edward_II) (also known as Edward of Caernarfon). In this record an unnamed *O'Kilte* is mentioned as a servant of a Nobleman named John Harold. Where in Mowan, [Lymerick](/source/County_Limerick) when they were robbed of "two affers worth 20[s](/source/Shilling_(British_coin))".[5]

Richard O'Kilte is mentioned in the Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Volume 2, in an entry dated November 1405 during the 7th year of [Henry IV](/source/Henry_IV_of_England). He is recorded as receiving payment for guarding a house of almonds, a duty assigned by warrant of [James le Botiller](/source/James_Butler,_4th_Earl_of_Ormond), Earl of [Ormond](/source/Earl_of_Ormond_(Ireland)). His role, guarding a "house of almonds" is listed among various other transactions involving individuals responsible for different tasks related to the Earl’s estates in counties [Kilkenny](/source/County_Kilkenny) and [Tipperary](/source/County_Tipperary).

The first documented instance of an approximate to the modern most common spelling is given in Wexfordiana, Vol. VIII: Extracts from the Calendar of Memoranda Rolls of the [Exchequer](/source/Exchequer_of_Ireland) under the reign of [Queen Elizabeth I](/source/Elizabeth_I).[6] The writing describes a "Dionisius O'Quiltye" overseeing a transaction between a FitzMaurice and the Alderman of the City of [Waterford](/source/Waterford) on the 17th of September 1579. His occupation at this time is given as "[cleric](/source/Clergy)" within the [Diocese of Ferns](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ferns) which is mostly located in the [County Wexford](/source/County_Wexford). Denis is again mentioned in Fatsi Ecclesiæ Hibernicæ by [Henry Cotton](/source/Henry_Cotton_(divine)) for the Province of Leinster,[7] now with the surname spelt as "Quilty". It shows him being recorded at a precentor for the Diocese of Ferns from 1587-1600. Cotton also emphasizes that the 1615 regal visitation book called him "an ancient minister".

Thomas Laffan's publication of the 1665-67 [Hearth Money Rolls](/source/Hearth_tax) for the County Tipperary list a Morrish (Maurice?) O'Quiltye as of having lived in "Bonnovoie" in the parish of Sallahode-more in the barony of [Clanwilliam](/source/Clanwilliam_(County_Tipperary)).[8]

### Modern Distribution

As of 2014, the majority of people with the surname Quilty were located in English-speaking countries. In the [United States](/source/United_States), there were 982 individuals bearing the surname, followed by 630 in [Australia](/source/Australia), 593 in [Canada](/source/Canada), 308 in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), 301 in [Ireland](/source/Ireland), 83 in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), and 22 in various other nations.[9]

In 1850 there were over 75 families bearing the name of "Quilty" in Ireland, over half of them in [County Limerick](/source/County_Limerick). As of 2005, there were about 300 families bearing the name of "Quilty" in the United States alone, almost half them in the northeast, with the highest concentrations in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Illinois, and California.

## Notable people with the surname

- [Andrew Quilty](/source/Andrew_Quilty), Australian photographer, cousin of Ben
- [Ben Quilty](/source/Ben_Quilty) (born 1973), Australian painter
- [Johnny Quilty](/source/Johnny_Quilty) (1921–1969), Canadian ice hockey player
- [Michelle Quilty](/source/Michelle_Quilty) (1990–), Irish camogie player
- [Patrick Quilty](/source/Patrick_Quilty) (1939–2018), Australian geologist and paleontologist
- [Sean Quilty](/source/Sean_Quilty) (1966–2022), Australian Olympic marathon runner
- [Sylvester "Silver" Quilty](/source/Silver_Quilty) (1891–1976), Canadian football player
- [Tom Quilty](/source/Tom_Quilty) (1887–1979), Australian station owner, philanthropist and poet
- [Tim Quilty](/source/Tim_Quilty), Australian politician.

### Fictional characters with the name Quilty

- Bridie Quilty, protagonist in the film *[I See a Dark Stranger](/source/I_See_a_Dark_Stranger)* (1941), played by [Deborah Kerr](/source/Deborah_Kerr)
- Clare Quilty, a fictional character in the 1955 novel *[Lolita](/source/Lolita)* by [Vladimir Nabokov](/source/Vladimir_Nabokov)

## Other uses of the name Quilty

**Places**

- [Quilty, County Clare](/source/Quilty,_County_Clare), is a village on the west coast of Ireland
- [Quilty Nunataks](/source/Quilty_Nunataks), a geographic feature of Antarctica named for geologist [Patrick Quilty](/source/Patrick_Quilty)

**In music**

- [Quilty](/source/Quilty_(group)) was an Irish folk group named after the Clare village, mainly hailing from [County Londonderry](/source/County_Londonderry), who released one album entitled "Music of Ireland" through Arfolk/Escalibur[10] in 1979.
- [Clare Quilty](/source/Clare_Quilty_(group)) is a rock group from Virginia, USA, named for the character from *Lolita*

**In fiction**

- The Quilties are a fictional race in the novel *[The Gnome King of Oz](/source/The_Gnome_King_of_Oz)* by [Ruth Plumly Thompson](/source/Ruth_Plumly_Thompson)

**Media**

- *Quilty* was an American magazine published by [F+W](/source/F%2BW) between 2011 and 2018.[11]

## References

1. MacLysaght, Edward (1964). *Supplement to Irish Families*. 1st ed. University of Michigan: Genealogical Book Company.

1. ["Quilty last name popularity, history, and meaning"](https://namecensus.com/last-names/quilty-surname-popularity/). *Name Census*. Retrieved 2 December 2024.

1. ["Ó Ceallaigh - Irish Names and Surnames"](https://www.libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceallaigh.php). *Library Ireland*. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

1. MacLysaght, Edward (1969). *The Surnames of Ireland*. Ireland: Irish Academic Press. p. 133. ISBN 9780716523666.

1. ["Calendar of the justiciary rolls or proceedings in the court of justiciar of Ireland"](https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/485006/?offset=0#page=317&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=). *www.familysearch.org*. 1313. p. 317. Retrieved 2024-08-05.

1. ["Wexfordiana, volume 8: Extracts from the Calendar of Memoranda Rolls of the Exchequer"](https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/FDA-1-14). *Irish Virtual Treasury*. 1894. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

1. Cotton, Henry (1847). *Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies in Ireland*. Ireland: Hodges and South. p. 353.

1. Laffan, Thomas (1911). *Tipperary's Families: Being the Hearth Money Rolls for 1665-67*. Cashel, Ireland: James Duffy & Co.Ltd. Publishers. p. 116.

1. ["forebears.io"](https://forebears.io/surnames/quilty#place-tab-2014). Retrieved 1 October 2024.

1. ["Quilty – Music of Ireland (1979, Vinyl)"](http://www.discogs.com/Quilty-Music-Of-Ireland/release/6841759)

1. Abby Glassenberg (9 October 2018). ["F+W to Cease Publication of Modern Patchwork, Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilty, and Knit.Wear Magazines Amidst New Round of Layoffs"](https://craftindustryalliance.org/fw-to-cease-publication-of-modern-patchwork-cloth-paper-scissors-quilty-and-knit-wear-magazines-amidst-new-round-of-layoffs/). *Craft Industry Alliance*. Retrieved 27 March 2020.

## External links

- [Quilty Family Genealogy Forum](http://genforum.genealogy.com/quilty)
- [Kielty Clan Association Website](http://www.kieltyassociation.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20050729104754/http://www.kieltyassociation.com/) 29 July 2005 at the Wayback Machine

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quilty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilty) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilty?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.