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

Quaife, 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 Quaife surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quaife in America

Quaife is the 90495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quaife surname appeared 204 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 Quaife.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quaife 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 Quaife

The surname Quaife originates from England, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from an old English word "cwalu," meaning "destruction" or "slaughter." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who worked as executioners or had a reputation for being fierce warriors.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Quaife can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Qualfe," which was likely an early spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the name Quaife was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Historical records from this period show individuals with the name Quaife residing in villages such as Quainton and Quainton Green, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Quaife was recorded as a landowner in the village of Chinnor, Oxfordshire. This suggests that the Quaife family had established themselves as prominent members of the local community during this time.

Over the centuries, the surname Quaife has been subject to various spelling variations, including Quafe, Quayfe, and Quaiff. These variations can be found in historical documents and records from different regions of England.

Notable individuals who have carried the surname Quaife throughout history include:

1. William Quaife (1585-1661), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

2. Robert Quaife (1720-1789), a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Jewry Church.

3. Elizabeth Quaife (1786-1854), a pioneering English educator who established one of the first schools for girls in Manchester.

4. Thomas Quaife (1832-1901), a British explorer and naturalist who conducted extensive research on the flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest.

5. Harriet Quaife (1875-1962), an American historian and author known for her work on the history of the American West and the fur trade.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Quaife throughout history, each making significant contributions in their respective fields and helping to shape the narrative of this distinctive English surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quaife

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

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 Quaife 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 Quaife 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 Quaife was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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