NameCensus.

UK surname

Quaye

A surname of Scottish origin, possibly derived from the Gaelic "cuaigh" meaning a cup or bowl.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Quaye surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 382, ranked #12,292, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Knowsley and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quaye is 403 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2022.2%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

382

2016, ranked #12,292

Peak year

2014

403 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quaye had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016, ranked #12,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Quaye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quaye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quaye 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 21 #31,686
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 228 #16,743
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 274 #14,680
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 316 #13,402
2007 modern 329 #13,168
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 364 #12,584
2010 modern 380 #12,462
2011 modern 375 #12,438
2012 modern 377 #12,238
2013 modern 399 #11,944
2014 modern 403 #11,932
2015 modern 399 #11,928
2016 modern 382 #12,292

Geography

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Where Quayes 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 Westminster, Knowsley, Hackney, Bristol and Wandsworth. 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 Westminster 004 Westminster
2 Knowsley 002 Knowsley
3 Hackney 017 Hackney
4 Bristol 023 Bristol, City of
5 Wandsworth 007 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quaye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quaye

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

Quaye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Quaye

The surname Quaye is believed to have originated in the region of West Africa, specifically in the present-day country of Ghana. It is thought to have its roots in the Ga-Adangme language spoken by the Ga people, who are among the major ethnic groups of the Greater Accra Region.

The name Quaye is believed to have derived from the Ga word "kwe," which means "born on Wednesday." In many West African cultures, names are often given based on the day of the week or circumstances surrounding a child's birth. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name Quaye were likely born on a Wednesday, and the name became a surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quaye can be found in the archives of the Ga Traditional Council, which has records dating back to the 17th century. These records document the existence of individuals with the surname Quaye during the time of the Ga Kingdom, which ruled over parts of present-day Ghana from the 16th to the 19th century.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Nii Quaye Tetteh I served as the Ga Mantse (King) of the Ga Kingdom. He ruled from 1781 to 1801 and was instrumental in preserving the traditions and cultural heritage of the Ga people during a time of political turmoil.

Another prominent individual with the surname Quaye was Emmanuel Kwasi Quaye, born in 1935, who was a Ghanaian politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana from 1979 to 1981 and played a significant role in shaping Ghana's foreign policy during that period.

In the field of education, Dr. Albert Quaye, born in 1942, was a renowned Ghanaian academic and author. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast from 1998 to 2004 and made significant contributions to the advancement of higher education in Ghana.

Additionally, the name Quaye has been associated with several notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry. For instance, Benjamin Quaye, born in 1981, is a Ghanaian-British musician and record producer who has worked with various international artists and contributed to the global music scene.

While the surname Quaye is predominantly found in Ghana and among the Ga people, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the West African region, particularly to the Ga-Adangme language and cultural traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quaye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quaye 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. Isle of Man leads with 23 Quayes recorded in 1881 and an index of 309.56x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 23 309.56x
Lancashire 17 3.58x
Yorkshire 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. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 15 Quayes recorded in 1881 and an index of 700.93x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 15 700.93x
Walton On Hill 7 272.37x
Dalton In Furness 5 273.22x
German 5 1219.51x
Toxteth Park 4 24.89x
Malew 2 307.69x
Bradford 1 10.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 13.26x
Jurby 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 5
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jenny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
Edward 3
Alexander 1
Frank 1
Joseph 1
Manasseh 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Quaye households.

FAQ

Quaye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quaye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Quaye surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quaye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016. That gives Quaye a modern rank of #12,292.

What does the Quaye surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin, possibly derived from the Gaelic "cuaigh" meaning a cup or bowl.

What does the Quaye map show?

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