2000
#125,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Quish
An anglicized version of the German surname Quist, derived from the place name Quistede meaning "quiet homestead."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Quish. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Quish surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Quish in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Quish, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Quish
The surname "Quish" is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Norfolk, East Anglia, where it was likely derived from the Old English word "cwis," meaning "twist" or "turn." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who had a physical characteristic or occupation involving twisting or turning.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like document from 1273, which mentions a "Quyssh" family residing in the village of Wymondham. The spelling variations during that time included "Quyssh," "Quysch," and "Quisch," reflecting the evolving nature of surnames and regional dialects.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in several other historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, where a "Johannes Quysch" was listed. The Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 also mentioned a "Thomas Quyssh," indicating the gradual spread of the name across different regions of England.
Throughout the centuries, the Quish surname has been associated with various notable individuals. One such figure was John Quish (1609-1678), a prominent merchant and landowner from Norfolk, who played a significant role in the local community. Another was Samuel Quish (1742-1818), a respected scholar and clergyman from Oxfordshire, known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of William Quish (1834-1901), a celebrated English painter whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy. His contemporary, Robert Quish (1838-1914), was a highly regarded engineer who contributed to several major infrastructural projects in London.
More recently, the Quish name has been associated with Mary Quish (1927-2010), a renowned author and novelist from Yorkshire, whose works explored themes of family, identity, and the complexities of rural life in England.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname "Quish," which has endured for centuries and continues to be a part of the diverse tapestry of English surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Quish
Among Census respondents with the surname Quish, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Quish bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Quish surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3% · 103
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Quish
Quish appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-25 bearers (-19.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 34,073 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+6 bearers (+5.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,073 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #125,639 | 126 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | -25 bearers (-19.8%) | Down 34,073 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.9%) | Up 8,073 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Quish surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #159,712 | #151,639 | 5.1% |
| Count | 101 | 107 | 5.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 19.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Quish bearers went from 101 to 107 (+5.9% change). The surname moved up 8,073 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #151,639.
FAQ
Quish surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Quish?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Quish. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Quish?
Quish ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Quish. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Quish.
Has Quish become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Quish went from 101 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 6 (+5.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Quish?
Among Census respondents with the surname Quish, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Quish in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.3% (103 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Quish appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.3%), Hispanic (1.9%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Quish (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Quish mean?
An anglicized version of the German surname Quist, derived from the place name Quistede meaning "quiet homestead." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Quish (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Quish?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.