2010
#113,155
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 155
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Quainoo
A Ghanaian surname potentially derived from the name of an Akan clan or ethnic group.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 279 Americans carry the last name Quainoo. That puts it at #83,373 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,228,510 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Quainoo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Quainoo with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
279
1 in 1,228,510
Census rank
#83,373
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
243
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 243 bearers of the surname Quainoo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 83373rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Quainoo, the largest self-reported group is Black at 92.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Quainoo
The surname Quainoo has its origins in the West African nation of Ghana. It is believed to have emerged in the late 17th or early 18th century, originating from the Akan language spoken by various ethnic groups in the region.
One theory suggests that Quainoo is derived from the Akan word "kwaino," which means "truthful" or "honest." This could indicate that the name was initially given to individuals who were known for their integrity and truthfulness within their communities.
Another plausible explanation traces the name's roots to the Akan word "kwain," which translates to "industrious" or "hardworking." If this is the case, Quainoo may have been bestowed upon those who displayed exceptional diligence and a strong work ethic.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Quainoo can be found in various historical documents and records from the region, such as land deeds, court records, and local archives dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
One notable individual bearing the Quainoo surname was Nana Kwasi Quainoo, a prominent chief and political leader in the Ashanti region of Ghana during the late 19th century. He played a significant role in negotiations with British colonial authorities and was highly respected for his diplomatic skills.
Another figure of historical significance was Kofi Quainoo, a successful merchant and trader who lived in the coastal town of Cape Coast in the early 19th century. He established a thriving business exporting goods to Europe and was instrumental in fostering trade relations between Ghana and various European nations.
In the realm of academia, Dr. Ama Quainoo, born in 1932, was a pioneering Ghanaian scholar and educator. She made invaluable contributions to the field of African literature and was widely recognized for her work in promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ghana.
Another notable individual was Joseph Quainoo, a talented artist and sculptor who lived in the late 20th century. His intricate wooden carvings and sculptures, deeply rooted in traditional Akan art forms, gained international acclaim and are displayed in museums and galleries around the world.
Lastly, mention should be made of Kwame Quainoo, a renowned musician and composer who was born in 1945. His unique blend of traditional Ghanaian rhythms and melodies with modern influences helped shape the vibrant music scene in Ghana and contributed to the global recognition of the country's rich musical traditions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Quainoo
Among Census respondents with the surname Quainoo, the largest self-reported group is Black at 92.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Quainoo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Quainoo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American92.6% · 225
- White2.9% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 6
- Two or more races1.6% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Quainoo
Quainoo appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#83,373
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 243
+88 bearers (+56.8%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 29,782 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #113,155 | 155 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #83,373 | 243 | 0.08 | +88 bearers (+56.8%) | Up 29,782 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Quainoo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #113,155 | #83,373 | 26.3% |
| Count | 155 | 243 | 56.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.08 | 62.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Quainoo bearers went from 155 to 243 (+56.8% change). The surname moved up 29,782 positions in the national ranking, going from #113,155 to #83,373.
FAQ
Quainoo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Quainoo?
Name Census estimates that about 279 living Americans carry the surname Quainoo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,228,510 residents.
How common is Quainoo?
Quainoo ranks #83,373 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 243 people with the surname Quainoo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (279), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Quainoo.
Has Quainoo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Quainoo went from 155 recorded bearers to 243. That is an increase of 88 (+56.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #113,155 to #83,373.
What does the Census say about the background of Quainoo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Quainoo, the largest self-reported group is Black at 92.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Quainoo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.6% (225 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Quainoo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (92.6%), White (2.9%), Hispanic (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Quainoo (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Quainoo mean?
A Ghanaian surname potentially derived from the name of an Akan clan or ethnic group. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Quainoo (0.08 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Quainoo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.