according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus (2.48), a Sabine word, and perhaps to be derived from quiris, a lance or spear. It occurs first of all as the name of Romulus, after he had been raised to the rank of a divinity, and the festival celebrated in his honour bore the name of Quirinalia (Verg. A. 1.292: Cic. De Nat. Deor. 2.24; Ov. Am. 3.8. 51, Fast. 4.56, 808, 6.375, Met. 15.862.) Owing to the probable meaning of the word it is also used as a surname of Mars, Janus, and even of Augustus. (Ov. Fast. 2.477; Serv. ad Aen. 7.610; Sueton. Aug. 22 Macr. 1.9; Verg. G. 3.27; Lydus, De Mens. p. 144; comp. ROMULUS.)
[L.S]A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology
Smith, William
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890