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

Qualey, 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 Qualey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qualey in America

Qualey is the 36838th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qualey surname appeared 606 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 Qualey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Qualey 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 Qualey

The surname Qualey is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cwalu," which means "death" or "pestilence." This may suggest that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who had survived a plague or other deadly epidemic.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Northamptonshire, where a Thomas Qualey was listed as being baptized in 1587. The name also appears in the historical records of Essex, where a William Qualey was recorded as a landowner in the village of Thaxted in 1612.

While the Qualey surname is not prominently featured in major historical manuscripts like the Domesday Book, it has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Qualey, a merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol during the late 17th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the trade of wool and other textiles with European countries.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Samuel Qualey (1722-1798) made a name for himself as a respected physician in the town of Taunton, Somerset. He was known for his contributions to the field of medicine and his work in treating patients during outbreaks of diseases like smallpox.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Qualey (1805-1878), a philanthropist and social reformer from Lancashire. She was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions in her hometown, including a school for underprivileged children and a shelter for women in need.

During the 19th century, the Qualey name was also associated with the coal mining industry in Yorkshire. One such figure was Thomas Qualey (1832-1911), who owned and operated a successful coal mine in the village of Barnsley. His son, William Qualey (1867-1942), continued the family business and was also involved in local politics, serving as a councillor for several years.

While the Qualey surname may not be among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich and varied history, with its bearers having made significant contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qualey

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

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

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

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