NameCensus.

UK surname

Quan

A Chinese surname meaning "full, complete, entire, or whole," often indicating a sense of abundance or perfection.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Quan surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Rushmoor and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quan is 298 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2028.6%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

2016

298 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quan had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Quan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quan 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 191 #18,150
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 194 #18,579
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 216 #17,447
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Quans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Rushmoor, Greenwich, Lewisham and Islington. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 018 North Somerset
2 Rushmoor 002 Rushmoor
3 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
4 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
5 Islington 017 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Quan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Quan 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quan 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

Quan is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quan falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quan 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
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Quan

The surname "QUAN" is of Chinese origin and can be traced back to the 6th century CE. It is believed to have originated in the Guangdong province of southern China, where it was originally spelled as "Quan" or "Kuan". The name is derived from the Chinese word "quan", which means "river" or "stream".

In ancient Chinese records, such as the "Hou Han Shu" (Book of the Later Han Dynasty), there are references to people with the surname "Quan" living in the Guangdong region during the 6th and 7th centuries. Some of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname include Quan Zhongmiao (588-658 CE), a renowned Confucian scholar, and Quan Deyu (620-692 CE), a prominent poet and calligrapher.

By the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), the "Quan" surname had spread to other parts of China, and variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In the northern regions, it was sometimes written as "Kuan", while in the south, it remained "Quan". During this period, there are mentions of Quan Changsheng (679-737 CE), a high-ranking official in the Tang court, and Quan Tangshi (702-778 CE), a celebrated Buddhist monk and scholar.

As the centuries passed, the "Quan" surname continued to be found across various parts of China. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), there was Quan Deyu (998-1063 CE), a renowned poet and essayist. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE), Quan Zuwang (1572-1638 CE) was a prominent scholar and calligrapher.

In more recent history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname "Quan". These include Quan Zhongansheng (1888-1976 CE), a influential educator and reformer, and Quan Deyu (1759-1844 CE), a respected scholar and philosopher.

While the "Quan" surname has its roots in China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, it remains closely associated with its Chinese heritage and the rich cultural history of the Guangdong region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quan 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. Cumberland leads with 7 Quans recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.57x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 7 59.57x
Essex 4 14.85x
Derbyshire 1 4.68x
Lancashire 1 0.62x
Surrey 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Muncaster in Cumberland leads with 7 Quans recorded in 1881 and an index of 35000.00x.

Place Total Index
Muncaster 7 35000.00x
West Ham 4 67.23x
Derby St Peter 1 147.06x
Newington 1 19.84x
Preston 1 23.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alicia 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Lillian 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Thomas 2
David 1
Henry 1
Patrick 1
Reginald 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 Quan households.

FAQ

Quan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Quan surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Quan a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Quan surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "full, complete, entire, or whole," often indicating a sense of abundance or perfection.

What does the Quan map show?

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