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

Quentin, 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 Quentin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quentin in America

Quentin is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quentin surname appeared 260 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 Quentin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quentin 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 Quentin

The surname Quentin originated in France and has its roots in the medieval Latin personal name Quintinus, which was derived from the Roman name Quintus. This name was originally a praenomen or personal name used in ancient Rome, meaning "the fifth" in Latin. It was often given to the fifth-born son in a family.

The earliest known record of the name Quentin dates back to the 3rd century AD, referring to Saint Quentin, a Roman Christian missionary and martyr who was beheaded in Picardy, France. His martyrdom led to the establishment of the town of Saint-Quentin in northern France, which played a significant role in the spread and popularity of the name.

During the Middle Ages, the name Quentin appeared in various spelling variations, such as Quintyn, Quentyn, and Quentin, reflecting the linguistic changes and regional dialects of the time. It was particularly common in northern France and parts of Belgium and England.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Quentin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name Quentin appears in this document, indicating its presence in England at that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Quentin. One such person was Saint Quentin (3rd century), the Roman Christian martyr mentioned earlier, who is venerated as the patron saint of locksmiths and various towns in northern France.

Another prominent figure was Robert de Courtenay, also known as Robert Quentin (1142-1219), an English nobleman and crusader who participated in the Third Crusade and later became the first Latin Emperor of Constantinople.

In the 15th century, Jehan Quentin (c. 1415-1472) was a renowned painter from the town of Saint-Quentin, known for his intricate and detailed style. His works can be found in museums across Europe.

During the Renaissance, Pedro Quentin (c. 1504-1576) was a Flemish painter and engraver who worked in Spain and is considered a pioneer of the Spanish Renaissance art style.

In more recent times, Quentin Crisp (1908-1999), an English writer, raconteur, and actor, gained fame for his flamboyant and unconventional lifestyle and his advocacy for LGBT rights.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Quentin throughout history, showcasing its French origins and the significance it has held across various regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quentin

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

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

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

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