NameCensus.

UK surname

Quaile

An English variant of the French surname Quaille, derived from the Latin "qualia" meaning quail.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Quaile surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cammerton, Manchester and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Helensburgh West and Rhu and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quaile is 166 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 262.2%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2010

166 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quaile had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Quaile surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quaile surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quaile 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 47 #30,566
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 132 #23,562
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 163 #22,547
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Quailes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cammerton, Manchester, Dalton-in-Furness, Liverpool and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Helensburgh West and Rhu, Hart and West Berkshire. 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 Cammerton Cumberland
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Helensburgh West and Rhu Argyll and Bute
3 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Hart 011 Hart
5 West Berkshire 020 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quaile

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quaile

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Quaile, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Quaile surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Quaile household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quaile is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quaile is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quaile falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quaile is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Quaile

The surname Quaile is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "caille," which means "quail," referring to the small game bird. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who had a perceived resemblance or association with the quail.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, compiled in 1273, where it appears as "Quayle." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, as surnames were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciations.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was listed as "Quaylle." This document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that period.

The Quaile surname has also been linked to certain place names, particularly in areas where the quail bird was abundant. For instance, the village of Quail in Buckinghamshire may have contributed to the development of the surname, as individuals from that region could have been referred to as "de Quail" or "Quaile."

Notable individuals bearing the Quaile surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Robert Quaile (1590-1661), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the 17th century. 2. John Quaile (1624-1689), a prominent English clergyman and author, known for his work "The Shepherd's Oracles," published in 1679. 3. Mary Quaile (1736-1817), a renowned British botanist and plant collector, who contributed significantly to the study of flora in the 18th century. 4. William Quaile (1834-1901), an American civil engineer and surveyor, responsible for mapping and surveying several major cities in the western United States. 5. Everett Quaile (1897-1976), an American baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1920s.

While the Quaile surname may not be as widely documented as some other English surnames, its history and origins can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the fascinating evolution of names and their connections to occupations, characteristics, and geographical locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quaile families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quaile 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Quailes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 4.99x
Cheshire 10 10.32x
Cumberland 5 13.23x
Middlesex 2 0.46x
Kent 1 0.67x
Renfrewshire 1 2.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton In Furness in Lancashire leads with 8 Quailes recorded in 1881 and an index of 398.01x.

Place Total Index
Dalton In Furness 8 398.01x
Tranmere 7 196.63x
Liverpool 6 18.98x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 121.07x
Arlecdon 3 300.00x
Everton 3 18.08x
Claughton With Grange 2 454.55x
Flimby 2 625.00x
Toxteth Park 2 11.34x
Barrow In Furness 1 14.12x
Birkenhead 1 12.95x
Erith 1 68.03x
Islington London 1 2.35x
Kirkby Ireleth 1 384.62x
Middle Greenock 1 107.53x
Paddington London 1 6.20x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Alxr. 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwd.L. 1
George 1
Robert 1
Wm 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Quaile households.

FAQ

Quaile surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quaile surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Quaile surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quaile surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Quaile a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Quaile surname mean?

An English variant of the French surname Quaille, derived from the Latin "qualia" meaning quail.

What does the Quaile map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Quaile 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.