Still a popular name throughout County Antrim, the McQuillans are known mostly for their association with Dunluce Castle and for their battles with the Scottish McDonnell clan.
The name McQuillan is of disputed origin, as the full ancient genealogy of the McQuillan was lost in the 1760s by Ephraim MacQuillan[citation needed], with two prevailing theories: Spelling variations for the name McKellen include: McQuillan, McQuillen, McQuillian, McQuillin, McQuillon, McCailin, McAilin, MacQuillian, MacQuillon, MacCaillion, MacQuillin, MacQuillan, McKillan, McQuilland, McAiland, McAylin, McCaillion, McKillion, McKillin, McKillon, MacKillan, MacQuilland, MacAyland, MacAilan, Quillan and many more.
By the 1460s, with the earldom of Ulster near its end, the surviving de Mandevilles of north Antrim deserted their manors in Twescard and sold their interests to the MacQuillans who were already established there.
[3] Sorley Boy MacDonnell, with the aid of levies from Scotland, launched a mass assault on the Route against the MacQuillans.
The final battle of this assault was at Aura, and saw the end of the MacQuillans and the conquest of the Route by the MacDonnells.