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

Quaintance, 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 Quaintance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quaintance in America

Quaintance is the 24159th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quaintance surname appeared 1,041 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 Quaintance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quaintance 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 Quaintance

The surname Quaintance is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "acointance" meaning "acquaintance" or "familiarity". It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th century, initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who was well-acquainted or familiar with a particular person, place, or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296, where a certain John Quaintance is mentioned. This entry suggests that the surname had already established itself by the late 13th century in the southern English counties.

In the 14th century, variations of the spelling appeared, such as "Queyntance" and "Quayntance", as documented in various medieval records and tax rolls. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in spelling conventions during that period.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Quaintance, a prominent merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 15th century. He was recorded as serving as the Sheriff of London in 1484 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Quaintance spread across various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. One notable figure from this era was William Quaintance, a respected physician and author who lived in the late 16th century and wrote several medical treatises.

In the 18th century, the surname Quaintance continued to be found in various regions of England, with several individuals bearing the name being recorded in parish registers and local records. One notable bearer was John Quaintance, a successful merchant and landowner from Kent, who lived in the early 18th century.

As the surname spread across different regions, its spelling variations also evolved, with forms like "Quantance" and "Quintance" appearing in some records. However, the more common spelling of "Quaintance" remained predominant.

Throughout its history, the surname Quaintance has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and tradesmen to physicians and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and social standings of those who bore the name.

While the surname Quaintance is relatively uncommon today, its rich history and etymology provide insights into the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quaintance

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

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

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

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