Find out how popular the last name Quális is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Quális.
An occupational surname derived from Latin, meaning a maker of high-quality goods.
Quális, 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 Quális surname is from the 2000 census data.
Quális is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Quális surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Quális.
The surname Qualis is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Tuscany. The earliest instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century, during a time when surname adoption was becoming more systematic in Italian regions. The name is possibly derived from the Latin word "qualis," meaning "of what kind" or "what sort," indicating a possible descriptive origin.
Historical records from the 13th century mention a family named Qualis residing in the city of Siena, one of the prominent city-states within Tuscany. An early reference appears in a communal record dated 1235, documenting a merchant named Giovanni Qualis who was involved in the olive oil trade. This merchant was well-known in the region for his dealings throughout the Tuscan markets.
The surname Qualis also appeared in various legal documents and land grants from the medieval period. A notable mention can be found in a land transaction record from 1302 involving Pietro Qualis, who inherited vineyards from an uncle near the town of San Gimignano, another town in Tuscany. Such records provide an insight into the family's involvement in local agriculture and commerce.
One of the earliest distinguished individuals with this surname was Antonio Qualis (1290-1355), a scholar at the University of Bologna. Antonio was renowned for his works in philosophy and law and held a significant academic position that influenced Renaissance thought in Italy. His published treatises are still studied in historical legal contexts.
Another prominent bearer of the surname was Beatrice Qualis (1382-1440), an abbess at a convent in Florence. Beatrice was noteworthy for her reforms in monastic life and her dedication to preserving religious manuscripts, many of which are still preserved in Florence's archives.
By the late Renaissance, the name had spread to other parts of Italy. In Venice, the name appears in the 1500s with records of a shipbuilder named Marco Qualis (1505-1575), who contributed to the maritime prowess of the Venetian Republic. His involvement in constructing several key vessels for the Republic's navy is well-documented in Venetian shipyard logs.
Moving to more modern historical entries, in the 17th century, Lorenzo Qualis (1630-1698) was a renowned painter from Naples, whose works were commissioned by various cathedrals in Southern Italy. His frescoes, many of which still adorn church ceilings, reflect the Baroque artistic movement.
These historical records and references illustrate the surname's progression from medieval times through the Renaissance, showing its ties primarily to Italy and revealing insights into the lives and contributions of those who carried the name.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Quális.
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:
For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Quális was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 47.06% | 48 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 36.27% | 37 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 6.86% | 7 |
Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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.
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 Quális was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/qualis-surname-popularity/">Quális last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Quális last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 24, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/qualis-surname-popularity/.
"Quális last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/qualis-surname-popularity/. Accessed 24 May, 2025
Quális last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/qualis-surname-popularity/.
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