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

Quilling, 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 Quilling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quilling in America

Quilling is the 50106th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quilling surname appeared 418 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 Quilling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quilling 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 Quilling

The surname Quilling is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "quill," which referred to the hollow stem of a feather used for writing or ornamentation. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with professions related to feather work or scribes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quilling can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England, from the year 1327. This historical document mentions a certain John Quilling, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that time period.

The name Quilling has also been linked to various place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Quillinghill in Northumberland, which may have influenced the surname's spelling variations. Other similar place names include Quillingworth in Yorkshire and Quillinghurst in Sussex.

In the 16th century, the surname Quilling appears in the records of the Parish of St. Michael in Lewes, Sussex. One notable entry from 1586 mentions the baptism of a child named Nicholas Quilling, son of John Quilling and his wife, Elizabeth.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Quilling have left their mark. One such figure was Sir Robert Quilling (1602-1679), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1663. Another notable individual was William Quilling (1715-1792), a renowned author and poet from Gloucestershire.

The name Quilling also appears in the annals of the American colonies. Records show that a certain John Quilling (1725-1803) was among the early settlers in Virginia, having arrived from England in the mid-18th century. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Quilling (1839-1912), a pioneering feminist and activist from Yorkshire. She was actively involved in the women's suffrage movement and campaigned tirelessly for equal rights and educational opportunities for women.

In the 19th century, the Quilling family gained recognition in the field of horticulture. William Quilling (1818-1897), a renowned botanist from Gloucestershire, made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of ornamental plants, publishing several books on the subject.

While the surname Quilling may have evolved from humble beginnings, its bearers have left an indelible mark across various fields, from politics and literature to horticulture and activism, adding richness to the tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quilling

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

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

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

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