NameCensus.

UK surname

Quartermaine

A British habitational surname derived from a location named for a residence near an ancient Roman road.

In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Quartermaine surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 301, ranked #14,696, up from #17,429 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Thame. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Cherwell and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quartermaine is 314 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 142.7%.

1881 census count

124

Ranked #17,429

Modern count

301

2016, ranked #14,696

Peak year

2014

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quartermaine had 124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,429 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016, ranked #14,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Quartermaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quartermaine surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quartermaine 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 124 #17,429
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 204 #14,925
1911 historical 271 #12,237
1997 modern 253 #15,152
1998 modern 293 #14,094
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 283 #14,418
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 271 #14,880
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 271 #15,182
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 299 #14,796
2016 modern 301 #14,696

Geography

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Where Quartermaines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Thame and Watlington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Cherwell, Kettering, Windsor and Maidenhead and Barking and Dagenham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Thame Oxfordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Watlington Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 002 Chichester
2 Cherwell 008 Cherwell
3 Kettering 010 Kettering
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 018 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quartermaine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quartermaine

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Quartermaine is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quartermaine is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quartermaine 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 Quartermaine 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Quartermaine

The surname Quartermaine has its origins in the ancient regions of Normandy, France. It is a locational name derived from the Old French words "quartier" meaning quarter or fourth part, and "maine" meaning manor or estate. This suggests the name originated from an individual who lived on or owned a quarter of a particular manor or estate.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This seminal document contains references to individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Quartermaine and Quartremaine, residing in various parts of Normandy.

During the Middle Ages, the Quartermaine family established itself as a prominent noble house in Normandy. Notable figures from this period include Sir William Quartermaine (1256-1321), a renowned knight who fought alongside King Edward I in the Scottish Wars of Independence, and Lady Isabelle Quartermaine (1307-1387), who was renowned for her patronage of the arts and literature.

As the Quartermaine name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings and forms. In England, the name is often found as Quartermain or Quatermain, while in Scotland it is sometimes rendered as Quartermane or Quatermane.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sir Richard Quatermain (1532-1597), an English explorer and adventurer who is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot in present-day South Africa. His travels and exploits were documented in several contemporary accounts and served as inspiration for the fictional character Allan Quatermain, created by writer H. Rider Haggard in his popular adventure novels.

Another notable individual was Sir John Quartermaine (1677-1748), a British military officer and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Jacobite Risings of the early 18th century.

In more recent times, the name Quartermaine has been borne by individuals such as Sir Arthur Quartermaine (1838-1912), a prominent British industrialist and philanthropist, and Sir Michael Quartermaine (1919-2005), a distinguished diplomat and former British ambassador to several countries.

Throughout its history, the surname Quartermaine has maintained a strong association with nobility, exploration, and military service, reflecting the varied and illustrious backgrounds of those who have carried this distinctive name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quartermaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quartermaine 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 42 Quartermaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.23x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 42 56.23x
Middlesex 26 2.15x
Surrey 11 1.87x
Warwickshire 11 3.61x
Berkshire 7 7.71x
Lanarkshire 7 1.79x
Derbyshire 5 2.64x
Kent 5 1.21x
Buckinghamshire 3 4.10x
Northamptonshire 3 2.64x
Somerset 3 1.54x
Gloucestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire leads with 20 Quartermaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 7407.41x.

Place Total Index
Aston Rowant 20 7407.41x
St Pancras London 11 11.30x
Watlington 9 1184.21x
Barony 7 7.07x
Wimbledon 7 105.74x
Aston 6 7.14x
Cookham 6 212.01x
Twickenham 6 115.61x
Derby St Peter 5 82.92x
Kingsbury 5 769.23x
Bicester Market End 4 291.97x
Thame 4 294.12x
Wrotham 4 291.97x
Brill 3 555.56x
Kensington London 3 4.46x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 58.82x
Mitcham 3 80.65x
Wellingborough 3 52.45x
Lewknor 2 909.09x
St George Hanover 2 12.67x
Brightwell Baldwin 1 1111.11x
Charlbury 1 119.05x
Cirencester 1 31.15x
Gillingham 1 11.75x
Hackney London 1 1.47x
Hornsey 1 6.54x
Kingston On Thames 1 7.06x
St Marylebone London 1 1.55x
Tetsworth 1 555.56x
Westminster St John 1 6.79x
Winkfield 1 66.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Mary 5
Ann 4
Annie 3
Emily 3
Edith 2
Elizh. 2
Jane 2
Ruth 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henry 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Phibiocllia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
William 8
George 6
Henry 6
James 5
Charles 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Fred 2
John 2
Walter 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Jane 1
Joseph 1
Leon 1
R.H. 1
Rich 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Quartermaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quartermaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Quartermaine surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quartermaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016. That gives Quartermaine a modern rank of #14,696.

What does the Quartermaine surname mean?

A British habitational surname derived from a location named for a residence near an ancient Roman road.

What does the Quartermaine map show?

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