NameCensus.

UK surname

Quaife

A variant spelling of the surname "Quaife" referring to someone who sold whey or buttermilk.

In the 1881 census there were 218 people recorded with the Quaife surname, ranking it #12,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, down from #12,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Ore and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Wandsworth and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quaife is 314 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.3%.

1881 census count

218

Ranked #12,158

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

1901

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quaife had 218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 314 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Quaife surname distribution map

The map shows where the Quaife surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Quaife surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quaife over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 141 #13,507
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 218 #12,158
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 309 #11,203
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 220 #16,914
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 230 #16,549
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 217 #17,349
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 226 #17,238
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 210 #18,932
2014 modern 206 #19,318
2015 modern 194 #19,994
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Quaifes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Ore, London parishes, Prescot and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Wandsworth, Ashford, Bradford and Sevenoaks. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Ore Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Prescot Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 003 Shepway
2 Wandsworth 031 Wandsworth
3 Ashford 007 Ashford
4 Bradford 002 Bradford
5 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quaife

These lists show first names that appear often with the Quaife surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quaife

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Quaife, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Quaife surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Quaife household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Quaife is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quaife is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quaife falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quaife is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Quaife, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Quaife

The surname Quaife originates from England, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from an old English word "cwalu," meaning "destruction" or "slaughter." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who worked as executioners or had a reputation for being fierce warriors.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Quaife can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Qualfe," which was likely an early spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the name Quaife was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Historical records from this period show individuals with the name Quaife residing in villages such as Quainton and Quainton Green, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Quaife was recorded as a landowner in the village of Chinnor, Oxfordshire. This suggests that the Quaife family had established themselves as prominent members of the local community during this time.

Over the centuries, the surname Quaife has been subject to various spelling variations, including Quafe, Quayfe, and Quaiff. These variations can be found in historical documents and records from different regions of England.

Notable individuals who have carried the surname Quaife throughout history include:

1. William Quaife (1585-1661), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

2. Robert Quaife (1720-1789), a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Jewry Church.

3. Elizabeth Quaife (1786-1854), a pioneering English educator who established one of the first schools for girls in Manchester.

4. Thomas Quaife (1832-1901), a British explorer and naturalist who conducted extensive research on the flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest.

5. Harriet Quaife (1875-1962), an American historian and author known for her work on the history of the American West and the fur trade.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Quaife throughout history, each making significant contributions in their respective fields and helping to shape the narrative of this distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quaife families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quaife surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 110 Quaifes recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.83x.

County Total Index
Sussex 110 30.83x
Middlesex 48 2.27x
Surrey 22 2.13x
Kent 18 2.49x
Somerset 6 1.76x
Yorkshire 6 0.29x
Bedfordshire 2 1.83x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.56x
Essex 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary in Sussex leads with 23 Quaifes recorded in 1881 and an index of 259.01x.

Place Total Index
Hastings St Mary 23 259.01x
Hastings St Mary In The 23 302.23x
Islington London 18 8.77x
Hastings St Andrew 14 1093.75x
Camberwell 12 8.88x
Hastings Holy Trinity 8 304.18x
Hastings St Leonards 8 152.38x
St Marylebone London 7 6.19x
Bexhill 6 337.08x
Edmonton 6 35.19x
Hornsey 6 22.41x
Newhaven 6 206.90x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 14.09x
Walcot 6 33.06x
Battle 5 207.47x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 11.72x
Uckfield 5 320.51x
Cranbrook 4 130.72x
Deptford St Paul 4 7.18x
Hastings St Clement 4 119.05x
Paddington London 4 5.14x
Catsfield 3 588.24x
Clapham 3 11.34x
Hammersmith London 3 5.75x
Ore 3 112.78x
St Pancras London 3 1.76x
Tonbridge 3 11.52x
Hawkhurst 2 89.29x
Langley Marish 2 127.39x
Millbrook 2 1000.00x
Milton In Gravesend 2 18.47x
Sholden 2 714.29x
Barony 1 0.58x
Crowhurst 1 322.58x
Feltham 1 47.39x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.71x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 7.41x
Hoo 1 104.17x
Leyton 1 13.89x
Preston 1 16.05x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.95x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Quaife surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 11
Ellen 8
Ann 7
Sarah 6
Eliza 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Frances 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Anne 2
Ansley 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Priscilla 2
Sophia 2
Charlote 1
Deanah 1
Eliza. 1
Elizth. 1
Emley 1
Eva 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
May 1
Mearty 1
Naarm 1
Phoebe 1
Rachael 1
Rosalie 1
Rosina 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Quaife surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 11
Thomas 8
Walter 8
Charles 7
James 7
Alfred 6
Harry 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
George 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Amos 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Eldred 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Horac 1
Horace 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Spencer 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Wilfred 1
Willm.H. 1
Wm.Alfred 1

FAQ

Quaife surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quaife surname in 1881?

In 1881, 218 people were recorded with the Quaife surname. That placed it at #12,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quaife surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Quaife a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Quaife surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname "Quaife" referring to someone who sold whey or buttermilk.

What does the Quaife map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Quaife bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.