NameCensus.

UK surname

Quartey

A surname of Ghanaian origin meaning "descended from people who lived by the sea".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quartey is 480 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

428

2016, ranked #11,234

Peak year

2010

480 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016, ranked #11,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Quartey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quartey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quartey 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 3 #33,861
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 232 #16,012
1998 modern 240 #16,117
1999 modern 268 #15,070
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 274 #14,576
2002 modern 300 #13,990
2003 modern 321 #13,218
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 431 #10,703
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 471 #10,418
2012 modern 429 #11,078
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 425 #11,432
2015 modern 422 #11,409
2016 modern 428 #11,234

Geography

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Where Quarteys 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 Ealing, Lambeth, Merton, Manchester and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 Ealing 027 Ealing
2 Lambeth 034 Lambeth
3 Merton 014 Merton
4 Manchester 022 Manchester
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quartey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quartey

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

Quartey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Quartey

The surname Quartey is of Ghanaian origin, believed to have originated from the Akan language spoken in parts of West Africa. It is thought to be derived from the word "kwarte," which means "fourth-born child" or "fourth in line."

The earliest recorded instances of the Quartey surname date back to the 17th century in the Akan regions of present-day Ghana. During this time, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as "Kwartey" or "Quarte," reflecting the differences in pronunciation and local dialects.

One of the earliest known references to the Quartey name can be found in historical records of the Akan people's migration and settlement patterns, as they established new communities and lineages across the region.

In the 18th century, the Quartey surname gained prominence with the rise of James Quartey (1720-1792), a prominent Akan chief and trader who played a significant role in facilitating trade relations between the local communities and European merchants along the Gold Coast.

Another notable figure bearing the Quartey name was Nana Akua Quartey (1842-1916), a respected queen mother and influential leader in the Akan society, renowned for her wisdom and diplomacy in resolving disputes among various clans.

During the 20th century, the Quartey surname gained international recognition with the literary works of Michael Quartey (1920-1992), a renowned Ghanaian author and poet whose novels and poems explored themes of cultural identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of modern African society.

In more recent times, the Quartey surname has been carried by notable individuals such as Emmanuel Quartey (1958-), a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist whose works have been exhibited globally, and Kwei Quartey (1962-), a Ghanaian-American author and writer known for his critically acclaimed crime fiction novels set in Ghana.

While the Quartey surname has its roots in the Akan culture of Ghana, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diasporic communities, carrying with it the rich cultural heritage and history of the Akan people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Quartey surname: questions and answers

How common is the Quartey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016. That gives Quartey a modern rank of #11,234.

What does the Quartey surname mean?

A surname of Ghanaian origin meaning "descended from people who lived by the sea".

What does the Quartey map show?

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