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

Quirk, 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 Quirk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quirk in America

Quirk is the 5443rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quirk surname appeared 6,392 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Quirk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quirk 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 Quirk

The surname QUIRK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cwirc" or "cwirce," meaning a sharp turn or twist. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a peculiar or eccentric habit or characteristic.

QUIRK first appeared in historical records in the late 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, dating back to 1273, where a person named William Quirk was mentioned.

In the 14th century, the surname was often spelled as "Qwyrke" or "Qwyrkke," reflecting the evolution of the English language and spelling conventions at the time.

The QUIRK surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, John Quirk (c. 1560-1634) was a prominent English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

During the English Civil War, Edward Quirk (c. 1620-1688) was a Puritan preacher and supporter of the Parliamentary cause. He was known for his fiery sermons and political activism.

In the 18th century, John Quirk (1701-1765) was an English engraver and artist who produced numerous engravings and illustrations for books and publications.

In the 19th century, Sir John Quirk (1828-1904) was a British naval officer and explorer. He participated in several Arctic expeditions and was knighted for his contributions to navigation and exploration.

Another notable figure was Mary Ann Quirk (1830-1912), an Irish-American educator and activist. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to promoting education and women's rights in the United States.

Over time, the QUIRK surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Quirk's Farm in Dorset and Quirk's Hill in Lancashire, reflecting the geographical spread of families bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quirk

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

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

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

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