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

Quay, 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 Quay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quay in America

Quay is the 22856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quay surname appeared 1,120 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 Quay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quay 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 Quay

The surname Quay is believed to have originated in France, possibly during the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "quai," which means "wharf" or "dock." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived or worked near a quay or harbor area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quay can be found in the "Pipe Rolls" of Northumberland, England, dating back to the 13th century. These rolls were essentially tax records, and the name Quay appears as "de Kaye," indicating a potential connection to a specific location or place name.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Quay has had various spellings, including Kaye, Kay, and Keye. These variations likely emerged due to regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

In the late 13th century, a notable figure named John de Kaye was documented as holding land in Yorkshire, England. This historical record provides evidence of the surname's presence during that time period.

During the 16th century, the name Quay appeared in several parish records and legal documents across England. For example, Thomas Quay was mentioned in the "Feet of Fines" for Lincolnshire in 1532, indicating a transaction involving the transfer of property or land.

One prominent individual with the surname Quay was Sir William Quay (1509-1587), an English merchant and Member of Parliament. He played a significant role in the expansion of English trade and commerce during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the surname Quay was also found in Scotland. Records show that Robert Quay, born around 1620, was a landowner and member of the Scottish gentry in Aberdeenshire.

Another notable figure was Thomas Quay (1657-1728), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Lincolnshire. He is remembered for his published works on theology and religious subjects.

During the 18th century, the surname Quay appeared in various records across different parts of Europe. For instance, Johann Quay (1721-1792) was a German painter and engraver renowned for his landscapes and architectural scenes.

The 19th century saw the continued presence of the Quay surname in various fields. One notable individual was Sir John Quay (1825-1897), a British architect and designer who was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quay

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

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

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

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