NameCensus.

UK surname

Quayle

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a quagmire or bog.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Quayle surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,567, ranked #3,960, up from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barrow-in-Furness, Liverpool and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quayle is 1,634 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 148.3%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

1,567

2016, ranked #3,960

Peak year

2010

1,634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quayle had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,567 in 2016, ranked #3,960.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,285 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Quayle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quayle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quayle 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 281 #8,028
1861 historical 308 #8,233
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 1,098 #4,399
1911 historical 1,285 #3,707
1997 modern 1,544 #3,815
1998 modern 1,590 #3,862
1999 modern 1,618 #3,832
2000 modern 1,602 #3,854
2001 modern 1,585 #3,810
2002 modern 1,612 #3,824
2003 modern 1,579 #3,816
2004 modern 1,615 #3,741
2005 modern 1,590 #3,746
2006 modern 1,565 #3,800
2007 modern 1,593 #3,783
2008 modern 1,605 #3,783
2009 modern 1,633 #3,817
2010 modern 1,634 #3,884
2011 modern 1,593 #3,921
2012 modern 1,571 #3,915
2013 modern 1,576 #3,968
2014 modern 1,582 #3,976
2015 modern 1,582 #3,935
2016 modern 1,567 #3,960

Geography

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Where Quayles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool, West Derby and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barrow-in-Furness, Liverpool, Stockport and Sefton. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
2 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
3 Stockport 019 Stockport
4 Sefton 021 Sefton
5 Barrow-in-Furness 009 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quayle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quayle

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Quayle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Quayle 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quayle 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

Quayle 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

Quayle falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quayle 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 Quayle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Quayle

The surname Quayle has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cwalu," which means "deadly" or "fatal." This likely referred to someone who lived near a dangerous place or had a formidable reputation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quayle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Quaile" in the county of Norfolk. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname was often spelled as "Quaile" or "Quayle," with variations like "Quaille" and "Quayle" emerging later. These different spellings reflect the diversity of local dialects and pronunciation at the time.

The name Quayle is also associated with several place names in England, such as Quaylegate in Norfolk and Quayleland in Gloucestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable figure with the surname Quayle was Sir John Quayle (1670-1758), a British politician and landowner from the Isle of Man. He served as the Governor of the Isle of Man from 1723 to 1755.

Another prominent individual was William Quayle (1857-1939), an American Methodist minister and author. He was born in Wigan, Lancashire, and later became a renowned preacher and writer, publishing several books on religious themes.

In the United States, Thomas Quayle (1755-1834) was a respected Quaker minister and abolitionist from Pennsylvania. He was actively involved in the anti-slavery movement and helped establish several Quaker communities.

Sir Dan Quayle (born 1947) is perhaps one of the most well-known individuals with this surname. He served as the 44th Vice President of the United States under President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993.

Finally, John Quayle (1857-1924) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel and the Midland Grand Hotel.

These examples illustrate the long history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Quayle, which has roots in medieval England and has been carried by individuals of various professions and accomplishments over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quayle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quayle 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 1,349 Quayles recorded in 1881 and an index of 375.72x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 1,349 375.72x
Lancashire 383 1.67x
Cumberland 81 4.87x
Cheshire 47 1.10x
Yorkshire 31 0.16x
Middlesex 30 0.16x
Staffordshire 12 0.18x
Durham 8 0.14x
Kent 8 0.12x
Hampshire 5 0.13x
Cornwall 4 0.18x
Gloucestershire 4 0.11x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Worcestershire 4 0.16x
Leicestershire 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 0.87x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.02x
Fife 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

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 266 Quayles recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.20x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 266 257.20x
Maughold 126 454.87x
Patrick 125 714.29x
Malew 116 369.90x
Lezayre 111 689.01x
German Peel 104 502.90x
Lonan 95 436.78x
Michael 80 1095.89x
German 68 347.29x
Andreas 63 646.82x
Toxteth Park 56 7.21x
Liverpool 55 3.95x
Ballaugh 46 717.63x
Everton 45 6.15x
Braddan 35 178.48x
West Derby 35 5.21x
Rushen 33 135.91x
Kirkdale 27 7.00x
Whitehaven 26 29.31x
Arbory 24 306.91x
Cleator 23 33.19x
Marown 22 335.88x
Harrington 19 94.57x
Barrow In Furness 17 5.45x
Birkenhead 16 4.70x
Dalton In Furness 15 16.94x
Hulme 14 2.92x
Jurby 13 299.54x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 1.73x
Douglas 11 211.54x
Manchester 11 1.07x
Shoreditch London 9 1.07x
Mile End Old Town 8 2.62x
Wavertree 8 10.89x
Bradford 7 1.51x
Greenwich 7 2.27x
Macclesfield 7 3.69x
North Meols 7 3.12x
Poulton Barre 7 26.82x
Shavington Cum Gresty 7 99.15x
Walton On Hill 7 5.63x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 3.29x
Cheetham 6 3.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 1.65x
Stansfield 6 8.51x
Astley 5 28.25x
Chadderton 5 4.46x
Egremont 5 12.60x
Great Crosby 5 7.99x
Islington London 5 0.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 4.45x
Todmorden Walsden 5 8.14x
Cheltenham 4 1.37x
Govan 4 0.26x
Halifax 4 1.42x
Leeds 4 0.37x
Liscard 4 5.20x
Moss Side 4 3.31x
Ormskirk 4 9.11x
St Anne 4 103.36x
St Mary Extra 4 12.54x
St Stephens By Saltash 4 42.42x
Tranmere 4 2.55x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 4 6.06x
Bride 3 61.22x
Dudley 3 0.98x
Gorton 3 1.39x
Little Meolse 3 49.18x
Lowside Quarter 3 144.23x
Malew Castletown 3 461.54x
Manningham 3 1.27x
Parton 3 30.55x
Preston 3 0.49x
Tottington Lower End 3 2.75x
Willesden 3 1.65x
Backwell 2 31.30x
Kingsley 2 25.13x
Marsden In Huddersfield 2 44.05x
Royal Navy 2 1.02x
Walmersley Cum 2 5.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 86
Jane 81
Mary 81
Margaret 80
Ann 63
Catherine 48
Sarah 44
Eliza 28
Isabella 28
Annie 24
Eleanor 24
Emma 24
Ellen 22
Alice 20
Emily 20
Esther 17
Anne 16
Charlotte 12
Elenor 12
Edith 11
Louisa 11
Hannah 10
Agnes 8
Cath. 8
Christian 8
Margt. 8
Fanny 7
Frances 6
Harriet 6
Jessie 6
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Florence 5
Martha 5
Catharine 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Maggie 4
Margret 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Anna 3
Cathrine 3
Ellenor 3
Georgina 3
Katherine 3
Lilly 3
Amelia 2
Cecelia 2
Janet 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 201
William 147
Thomas 131
Robert 68
James 57
Edward 35
George 30
Joseph 25
Charles 22
Daniel 22
Philip 21
Henry 20
Wm. 14
Alfred 12
Thos. 11
Richard 8
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Phillip 6
Arthur 5
Robt. 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Georg 4
Mark 4
Walter 4
Andrew 3
Evan 3
Paul 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Ceaser 2
David 2
Ed. 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Stephen 2
W. 2
Willm. 2
Amos 1
Charls 1
Dan. 1
Eliz.E. 1
Ernest 1
Ethelrad 1
Fraicis 1
Frederic 1
Johnson 1
Jos. 1

FAQ

Quayle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quayle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Quayle surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quayle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,567 in 2016. That gives Quayle a modern rank of #3,960.

What does the Quayle surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a quagmire or bog.

What does the Quayle map show?

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