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

Quest, 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 Quest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quest in America

Quest is the 35582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quest surname appeared 632 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 Quest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quest 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 Quest

The surname Quest is of English origin and dates back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cyst" or "cest," meaning choice or outstanding merit. The name likely referred to someone who was highly regarded or esteemed in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Quest can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record from 1273. The name appears as "Queste" in this document, which suggests that the spelling has evolved over time.

In the 14th century, the surname Quest was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Records from this period show variations in spelling, including "Queste," "Quest," and "Quist."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not directly mention the surname Quest. However, it does reference several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as "Questen" in Wiltshire and "Quistede" in Essex.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Quest was John Quest, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Sir William Quest, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Quest continued to be found across various parts of England. Notable individuals from this period include:

1. Richard Quest (c. 1550-1634), a wealthy landowner and magistrate from Hertfordshire.
2. Elizabeth Quest (c. 1590-1669), a Puritan writer and religious activist from Berkshire.
3. Thomas Quest (1609-1676), a member of the English Parliament and supporter of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Quest surname spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Some notable bearers of the name include:

1. Benjamin Quest (1730-1809), an American Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia.
2. James Quest (1795-1879), a Scottish politician and advocate for social reform.
3. Emily Quest (1840-1918), an English novelist and playwright known for her works on the suffragette movement.

While the surname Quest has roots in medieval England, it has since become a surname found in many parts of the world, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quest

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

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

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

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