NameCensus.

UK surname

Quarshie

A surname of Ghanaian origin referring to a caretaker or guardian.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Merton and Sighthill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quarshie is 202 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

2014

202 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Quarshie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quarshie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quarshie 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
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1997 modern 86 #28,876
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Quarshies 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 Haringey, Merton, Sighthill, Bexley and Brent. 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 Haringey 018 Haringey
2 Merton 019 Merton
3 Sighthill Glasgow City
4 Bexley 002 Bexley
5 Brent 003 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quarshie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quarshie

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Quarshie 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

Quarshie 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

Quarshie 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 Quarshie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Quarshie

The surname Quarshie is of Ghanaian origin, originating from the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa. It is believed to have derived from the Akan word "kwarshi," which means "left-handed" or "unconventional."

The earliest known records of the name can be traced back to the 17th century in the region of Akuapem, located in the Eastern Region of modern-day Ghana. During this time, the name was often associated with skilled artisans and craftsmen who were known for their unique and unconventional techniques.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quarshie can be found in the writings of the Dutch linguist and historian, Willem Bosman, who documented the Akan people and their customs in his work "A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea" published in 1705. Bosman mentions a local chief named Quarshie who played a significant role in the trade relations between the Akan and the Dutch traders.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with the story of Tetteh Quarshie, a Ghanaian blacksmith who is credited with introducing cocoa farming to Ghana. Born in 1842, Tetteh Quarshie is revered as the founding father of Ghana's cocoa industry, which has become a major economic driver for the country.

Another notable figure with the surname Quarshie is Kwame Quarshie, a Ghanaian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Pan-African Congress in the 1920s. He played a pivotal role in advocating for the decolonization of British territories in Africa.

The name Quarshie has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as Quarshie Town, a suburb of Accra, the capital city. This area was named after a prominent Quarshie family who settled there in the late 19th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Quarshie include: 1. Kwame Quarshie Idun (1892-1972), a Ghanaian lawyer and political activist. 2. Emmanuel Quarshie (born 1987), a Ghanaian professional footballer. 3. Nana Fredua Quarshie (1890-1969), a Ghanaian traditional ruler and chief of Akuapem. 4. Alfred Quarshie (born 1987), a Ghanaian professional footballer. 5. Kofi Quarshie (1922-1994), a Ghanaian educationist and author.

While the name Quarshie has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and globalization. However, its historical significance and connection to the Akan culture of Ghana remain deeply ingrained in its etymology and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Quarshie surname: questions and answers

How common is the Quarshie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Quarshie a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Quarshie surname mean?

A surname of Ghanaian origin referring to a caretaker or guardian.

What does the Quarshie map show?

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