NameCensus.

UK surname

Quainton

An English habitational surname derived from the village of Quainton in Buckinghamshire.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Quainton surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 171, ranked #21,726, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cassington, London parishes and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gosport, South Oxfordshire and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quainton is 185 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

171

2016, ranked #21,726

Peak year

1998

185 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quainton had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016, ranked #21,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Quainton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quainton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quainton 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 143 #18,570
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 185 #18,973
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 182 #19,300
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 163 #20,789
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 172 #21,575
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 171 #21,726

Geography

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Where Quaintons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cassington, London parishes, Blackburn, Aylesbury, Bierton with Broughton and Sydenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gosport, South Oxfordshire, Cherwell and Oxford. 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 Cassington Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Aylesbury, Bierton with Broughton Buckinghamshire
5 Sydenham Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gosport 008 Gosport
2 South Oxfordshire 005 South Oxfordshire
3 Gosport 007 Gosport
4 Cherwell 018 Cherwell
5 Oxford 006 Oxford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quainton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quainton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Quainton, 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 Quainton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Quainton 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Quainton is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quainton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quainton 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 Quainton 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 Quainton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Quainton

The surname Quainton has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Buckinghamshire. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Quainton," a village located in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire. The name Quainton is believed to have originated from the Old English words "cwēn" and "tūn," meaning "queen" and "town" respectively, suggesting that the village may have been associated with a queen or a royal estate in its early history.

The earliest known record of the surname Quainton dates back to the late 12th century, when it appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1198 as "Quinton." Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "Quynton," "Queynton," and "Quaynton" being documented in various historical records.

One notable mention of the surname Quainton can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry for Quainton village mentions a manor and a church, indicating its significance as a settlement during the Norman period.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Quainton was John Quainton, who was born in Quainton village in the late 13th century and served as a parish clerk in the nearby town of Aylesbury in the early 1300s. Another early bearer of the name was William Quainton, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1327.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Quainton surname was Sir Richard Quainton (c. 1510-1580), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in 1558. He was known for his support of the Protestant Reformation and his opposition to the Catholic policies of Queen Mary I.

Moving into the 17th century, Reverend John Quainton (1627-1690) was a prominent clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Peter's Church in Northampton. He published several theological works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the Quainton surname was Sir Charles Quainton (1844-1922), a renowned English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London and the University of Birmingham campus.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quainton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quainton 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. Oxfordshire leads with 44 Quaintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.88x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 44 59.88x
Buckinghamshire 34 47.26x
Middlesex 24 2.02x
Essex 8 3.41x
Gloucestershire 7 3.00x
Berkshire 2 2.24x
Hampshire 1 0.41x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Steeple Claydon in Buckinghamshire leads with 18 Quaintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5142.86x.

Place Total Index
Steeple Claydon 18 5142.86x
Cassington 15 10714.29x
Chigwell 8 360.36x
Yarnton 8 7272.73x
Bethnal Green London 7 13.54x
Mangotsfield 7 300.43x
Willesden 6 53.48x
Aylesbury 5 156.74x
Chelsea London 5 13.94x
Oxford St Thomas 5 145.77x
Buckingham 4 273.97x
Middle Claydon 4 4444.44x
Sydenham 4 2857.14x
Thame 4 298.51x
Chinnor 3 588.24x
Hackney London 2 3.00x
Hambleden 2 322.58x
St George Hanover 2 12.88x
Ensham 1 263.16x
Horninglow 1 52.91x
Kensington London 1 1.51x
Letcombe Bassett 1 1111.11x
Oxford St Aldate 1 129.87x
Oxford St Clement 1 54.05x
Oxford St Martin 1 833.33x
Padbury 1 454.55x
Portsea 1 2.09x
Rishton 1 60.24x
Steeple Barton 1 270.27x
Wargrave 1 129.87x
Westminster St 1 22.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Annie 5
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Minnie 2
Agness 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Cecila 1
Dina 1
Elina 1
Eliz. 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Thomas 10
Edward 4
James 4
Edmund 3
John 3
Frank 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
Cecil 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
George 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Isacc 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Steven 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Quainton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quainton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Quainton surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quainton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016. That gives Quainton a modern rank of #21,726.

What does the Quainton surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the village of Quainton in Buckinghamshire.

What does the Quainton map show?

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