Find out how popular the last name Qua is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Qua.

Qua, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Qua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qua in America

Qua is the 89403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qua surname appeared 207 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Qua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Qua to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Qua

The surname Qua has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "qualis," meaning "what kind" or "of what quality." This name likely referred to a person's character or profession.

In the early 1500s, records show the name appearing in various Italian regions, particularly in the northern areas of Lombardy and Veneto. The earliest known spelling variations include Qua, Quá, and Quà.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Qua can be found in the Florentine Codex, a 16th-century ethnographic work describing the culture and history of the Aztec people in Mexico. This work, compiled by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún, mentions a man named Giovanni Qua, who was believed to be an Italian merchant trading in the region.

In the 17th century, the Qua surname became more widespread throughout Italy, with notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Girolamo Qua, a renowned painter from Modena, who lived from 1592 to 1668 and was known for his religious artworks adorning churches across northern Italy.

Another significant figure was Domenico Qua, a philosopher and scholar from Venice, born in 1630. He is remembered for his contributions to the study of logic and his work "Tractatus de Syllogismo," published in 1684.

In the 18th century, the Qua surname found its way to England, possibly through Italian immigrants or traders. One notable Englishman with this name was William Qua, a successful merchant and philanthropist from London, who lived from 1712 to 1795. He is known for establishing the Qua Foundation, which supported education and social welfare initiatives in the city.

Moving into the 19th century, the Qua surname gained prominence in the United States, with several individuals leaving their mark. One of them was John Qua, a prominent abolitionist and social reformer from Massachusetts, born in 1801. He actively campaigned against slavery and was involved in the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves reach freedom.

Another notable American with the Qua surname was Sarah Qua, a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate from New York, born in 1825. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the state and was a vocal supporter of women's suffrage and equal educational opportunities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qua

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Qua.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Qua was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Qua has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Qua was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Qua, please contact us.

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