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

Quaye, 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 Quaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quaye in America

Quaye is the 29740th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quaye surname appeared 791 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 Quaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quaye 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 Quaye

The surname Quaye is believed to have originated in the region of West Africa, specifically in the present-day country of Ghana. It is thought to have its roots in the Ga-Adangme language spoken by the Ga people, who are among the major ethnic groups of the Greater Accra Region.

The name Quaye is believed to have derived from the Ga word "kwe," which means "born on Wednesday." In many West African cultures, names are often given based on the day of the week or circumstances surrounding a child's birth. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name Quaye were likely born on a Wednesday, and the name became a surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quaye can be found in the archives of the Ga Traditional Council, which has records dating back to the 17th century. These records document the existence of individuals with the surname Quaye during the time of the Ga Kingdom, which ruled over parts of present-day Ghana from the 16th to the 19th century.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Nii Quaye Tetteh I served as the Ga Mantse (King) of the Ga Kingdom. He ruled from 1781 to 1801 and was instrumental in preserving the traditions and cultural heritage of the Ga people during a time of political turmoil.

Another prominent individual with the surname Quaye was Emmanuel Kwasi Quaye, born in 1935, who was a Ghanaian politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana from 1979 to 1981 and played a significant role in shaping Ghana's foreign policy during that period.

In the field of education, Dr. Albert Quaye, born in 1942, was a renowned Ghanaian academic and author. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast from 1998 to 2004 and made significant contributions to the advancement of higher education in Ghana.

Additionally, the name Quaye has been associated with several notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry. For instance, Benjamin Quaye, born in 1981, is a Ghanaian-British musician and record producer who has worked with various international artists and contributed to the global music scene.

While the surname Quaye is predominantly found in Ghana and among the Ga people, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the West African region, particularly to the Ga-Adangme language and cultural traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quaye

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

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

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

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