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

Quinby, 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 Quinby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quinby in America

Quinby is the 29822nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quinby surname appeared 788 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 Quinby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quinby 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 Quinby

The surname Quinby is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically the town of Quenby in Leicestershire. The name Quenby itself is derived from the Old English words "cwēn" meaning woman or queen, and "byrig" meaning a fortified town or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quinby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Quenebi." This ancient survey commissioned by William the Conqueror serves as a valuable historical record, suggesting that the Quinby name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Quinby family likely resided in the village of Quenby, which was situated near the town of Hungarton. In those times, it was common for people to adopt surnames derived from the places they lived or were associated with.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Roger de Quenby was recorded as holding lands in Quenby and the surrounding areas. This historical reference provides further evidence of the name's longevity and its connection to the local geography.

Another early mention of the Quinby name can be found in the Calendars of Inquisitions Post Mortem, a series of records documenting land holdings and inheritance cases in medieval England. In the year 1361, a William de Quenby was listed as a landowner in Leicestershire.

As the Quinby family grew and spread across England, variations in spelling emerged, including Quinby, Quimby, and Quenby. This was a common occurrence in the days before standardized spelling conventions were established.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Quinby surname. One such figure was John Quinby (1589-1663), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Peterborough. Another was Isaac Quinby (1777-1843), an American physician who pioneered the use of homeopathic remedies in the United States.

In more recent times, the name Quinby has been associated with individuals like David Quinby (1899-1976), an American actor and director, and Theresa Quinby (1912-1996), a celebrated American opera singer.

While the Quinby surname may have evolved over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English village of Quenby, a testament to the rich historical tapestry woven by names and the stories they carry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quinby

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

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

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

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