NameCensus.

UK surname

Quaintance

An archaic variant spelling of the word "acquaintance" referring to familiarity or knowledge.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Quaintance surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Lympston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, West Berkshire and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quaintance is 155 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 251.3%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2004

155 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quaintance had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Quaintance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quaintance surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quaintance 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 78 #27,035
1901 historical 97 #23,227
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 149 #21,924
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 142 #24,182
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Quaintances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Lympston, London parishes and Ashcott. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, West Berkshire, North Devon, Trafford and Croydon. 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 Minster Kent
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Lympston Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ashcott Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 003 South Hams
2 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
3 North Devon 002 North Devon
4 Trafford 018 Trafford
5 Croydon 041 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quaintance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quaintance

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Quaintance is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Quaintance is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quaintance falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quaintance is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Quaintance

The surname Quaintance is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "acointance" meaning "acquaintance" or "familiarity". It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th century, initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who was well-acquainted or familiar with a particular person, place, or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296, where a certain John Quaintance is mentioned. This entry suggests that the surname had already established itself by the late 13th century in the southern English counties.

In the 14th century, variations of the spelling appeared, such as "Queyntance" and "Quayntance", as documented in various medieval records and tax rolls. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in spelling conventions during that period.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Quaintance, a prominent merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 15th century. He was recorded as serving as the Sheriff of London in 1484 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Quaintance spread across various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. One notable figure from this era was William Quaintance, a respected physician and author who lived in the late 16th century and wrote several medical treatises.

In the 18th century, the surname Quaintance continued to be found in various regions of England, with several individuals bearing the name being recorded in parish registers and local records. One notable bearer was John Quaintance, a successful merchant and landowner from Kent, who lived in the early 18th century.

As the surname spread across different regions, its spelling variations also evolved, with forms like "Quantance" and "Quintance" appearing in some records. However, the more common spelling of "Quaintance" remained predominant.

Throughout its history, the surname Quaintance has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and tradesmen to physicians and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and social standings of those who bore the name.

While the surname Quaintance is relatively uncommon today, its rich history and etymology provide insights into the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quaintance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quaintance 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. Devon leads with 33 Quaintances recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.68x.

County Total Index
Devon 33 41.68x
Gloucestershire 3 4.02x
Glamorgan 1 1.51x
Monmouthshire 1 3.64x
Somerset 1 1.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aylesbeare in Devon leads with 14 Quaintances recorded in 1881 and an index of 12727.27x.

Place Total Index
Aylesbeare 14 12727.27x
Exeter Holy Trinity 9 2903.23x
Exeter Heavitree 4 677.97x
Clifton 2 53.05x
Whimple 2 2222.22x
Baglan Lower 1 1428.57x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 14.25x
Christchurch 1 117.65x
Clutton 1 769.23x
East Budleigh 1 270.27x
Exeter St Leonard 1 454.55x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 55.25x
Otterton 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Emily 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Eliza 1
Melony 1
Minerva 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
William 3
Alfred 2
Fred 2
John 2
Joseph 2
Abraham 1
James 1
Lewis 1
Samuel 1
Walter 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 Quaintance households.

FAQ

Quaintance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quaintance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Quaintance surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quaintance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Quaintance a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Quaintance surname mean?

An archaic variant spelling of the word "acquaintance" referring to familiarity or knowledge.

What does the Quaintance map show?

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