Quayle is a surname of English, Irish, Manx and Scottish origin.
When the name originates from Ireland and Scotland it is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Phàil (Scottish) Mac Phóil (Irish) meaning "son of Phàil/Phóil". These are Gaelic patronymic forms of the personal name Paul. The Manx origin of the surname is also from a patronymic form of a Gaelicisation of Paul. When originating in Ireland the name is sometimes a variant of the surname Quill. When Quayle is of English origin the surname can be derived from the Old French/Middle English quaille, meaning "quail". In this way the name would be used as a nickname for a timorous, lecherous, or fat person - words that all describe this particular bird. The name is recorded in the Isle Man as MacFayle in 1511, and MacQuayle, Quayle in 1540. The name is recorded in England as Quayle in 1327.
Read more about Quayle: Other, Fictional People, Similar or Related Surnames
Famous quotes containing the word quayle:
“Space is almost infinite. As a matter of fact, we think it is infinite.”
—Dan Quayle (b. 1947)
“You do the policy, I’ll do the politics.”
—Dan Quayle (b. 1947)