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

Qualter, 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 Qualter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qualter in America

Qualter is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qualter surname appeared 135 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 Qualter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Qualter 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 Qualter

The surname Qualter is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known references dating back to the 13th century. Derived from the Middle English word "qualiter," which means "one who sells cheap goods," the name was likely an occupational surname given to peddlers or hawkers of inexpensive wares.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a Richard le Qualter is listed among the taxpayers. This suggests that the name had already become an established surname by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Qualter," "Qualtere," and "Qualitere," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 mention a John Qualtere, further solidifying the presence of the name in different regions of England.

The Qualter surname can also be traced back to certain place names, such as Qualters in Gloucestershire and Qualter's Hill in Hampshire. These locations may have influenced the development of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on the places they lived or originated from.

Notable individuals bearing the Qualter surname throughout history include:

1. John Qualter (c. 1450-1515), an English politician and member of Parliament for Bridgnorth in 1491.
2. William Qualter (1570-1632), an English clergyman and author of religious works.
3. Thomas Qualter (1655-1718), an English architect known for his work on various churches and estates in Staffordshire.
4. Samuel Qualter (1735-1801), a British merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and almshouses in his hometown of Birmingham.
5. Elizabeth Qualter (1810-1892), a prominent figure in the early women's suffrage movement in England and a co-founder of the Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage.

While the Qualter surname may not be as widely known as some others, its origins and historical references provide a glimpse into the lives and occupations of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qualter

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

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

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

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