NameCensus.

UK surname

Quick

An English occupational surname for a messenger or courier, derived from the Old English word "cwic," meaning alive or fast.

In the 1881 census there were 3,336 people recorded with the Quick surname, ranking it #1,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,356, ranked #2,021, down from #1,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quick is 3,943 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.6%.

1881 census count

3,336

Ranked #1,361

Modern count

3,356

2016, ranked #2,021

Peak year

1911

3,943 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quick had 3,336 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,356 in 2016, ranked #2,021.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,943 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Quick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quick 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 2,526 #1,176
1861 historical 2,312 #1,274
1881 historical 3,336 #1,361
1891 historical 3,346 #1,429
1901 historical 3,629 #1,544
1911 historical 3,943 #1,300
1997 modern 3,445 #1,878
1998 modern 3,617 #1,869
1999 modern 3,619 #1,879
2000 modern 3,599 #1,886
2001 modern 3,476 #1,906
2002 modern 3,506 #1,934
2003 modern 3,424 #1,934
2004 modern 3,409 #1,940
2005 modern 3,337 #1,957
2006 modern 3,323 #1,968
2007 modern 3,330 #1,984
2008 modern 3,376 #1,973
2009 modern 3,463 #1,967
2010 modern 3,489 #1,999
2011 modern 3,412 #2,021
2012 modern 3,318 #2,034
2013 modern 3,378 #2,035
2014 modern 3,371 #2,049
2015 modern 3,345 #2,040
2016 modern 3,356 #2,021

Geography

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Where Quicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst and Tiverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Mid Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst Somerset
5 Tiverton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
4 Mid Devon 009 Mid Devon
5 Cornwall 067 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Quick, 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 Quick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Quick 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quick 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

Quick is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quick falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Quick

The surname Quick originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cwic," meaning "alive" or "living." This word was later used to describe someone who was lively, nimble, or quick in their movements.

One of the earliest known references to the Quick surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Quic." This indicates that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Quic, Quik, and Quyk, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The modern spelling of "Quick" became more standardized by the 16th century.

One notable bearer of the Quick surname was John Quick (c. 1636-1706), an English clergyman and theologian. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and was known for his writings on religious controversies of the time.

Another historically significant individual was Robert Quick (c. 1618-1657), an English parliamentarian and soldier who fought for the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He was killed in battle during the siege of Dunkirk.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was John Quick (1748-1831), an English engraver and artist known for his works depicting landscapes and architectural scenes.

The Quick surname can also be traced to the village of Quick in Somerset, England, which may have contributed to the development of the surname in that region.

In the United States, one notable bearer of the Quick surname was William F. Quick (1869-1944), a Republican politician who served as the Governor of Hawaii from 1913 to 1918.

Throughout history, the Quick surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, soldiers, artists, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quick 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. Devon leads with 771 Quicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.32x.

County Total Index
Devon 771 11.32x
Cornwall 447 12.06x
Middlesex 404 1.23x
Somerset 321 6.09x
Lancashire 231 0.59x
Gloucestershire 156 2.43x
Surrey 155 0.97x
Glamorgan 136 2.39x
Kent 114 1.02x
Hampshire 85 1.27x
Yorkshire 73 0.23x
Sussex 52 0.94x
Staffordshire 36 0.33x
Essex 35 0.54x
Warwickshire 35 0.42x
Hertfordshire 31 1.37x
Cheshire 30 0.42x
Bedfordshire 23 1.36x
Durham 22 0.23x
Cumberland 19 0.67x
Worcestershire 19 0.44x
Monmouthshire 16 0.68x
Northamptonshire 16 0.52x
Royal Navy 16 4.10x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.76x
Wiltshire 14 0.48x
Lincolnshire 11 0.21x
Dorset 10 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.20x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.60x
Lanarkshire 7 0.07x
Channel Islands 6 0.62x
Denbighshire 6 0.49x
Leicestershire 5 0.14x
Derbyshire 4 0.08x
Northumberland 4 0.08x
Berkshire 3 0.12x
Oxfordshire 3 0.15x
Renfrewshire 2 0.08x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 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. St Ives in Cornwall leads with 181 Quicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 249.66x.

Place Total Index
St Ives 181 249.66x
Tiverton 47 40.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 45 7.45x
Camberwell 45 2.15x
Plymouth St Andrew 45 8.58x
Islington London 43 1.36x
Paddington London 39 3.24x
St Pancras London 37 1.40x
Portsea 36 2.74x
Towednack 35 482.09x
Kensington London 34 1.87x
Lambeth 34 1.19x
Plymouth Charles The 33 11.00x
Liverpool 31 1.31x
Preston 30 2.89x
Taunton St James 30 39.05x
West Ham 28 1.96x
Great Torrington 27 69.89x
Hackney London 27 1.47x
Ludgvan 27 91.43x
Barnstaple 26 24.32x
Bedminster 26 5.25x
Swansea Town 24 5.14x
Chelsea London 23 2.33x
Tormoham 22 7.63x
Wolborough 21 24.38x
Leighton Buzzard 20 27.43x
Shoreditch London 20 1.41x
Upottery 20 244.50x
Plumstead 19 5.10x
St Marylebone London 19 1.09x
Stoke Damerel 19 3.99x
Deptford St Paul 18 2.09x
Roath 18 6.95x
West Derby 18 1.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 1.45x
Westbury On Trym 17 7.82x
Birmingham 16 0.58x
Crediton 16 24.79x
Hammersmith London 16 1.98x
Madron Penzance 16 11.87x
Malborough 16 59.08x
Toxteth Park 16 1.22x
Bristol St Michael 15 27.26x
Madron 15 50.12x
Royal Navy 15 4.50x
Sefton 15 348.84x
Brighton 14 1.26x
Clifton 14 4.31x
Paul 14 20.80x
Sithney 14 37.39x
St George Hanover 14 3.28x
Taunton St Mary 14 14.48x
Whitehaven 14 9.32x
Aberdare 13 3.32x
Aston 13 0.57x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.91x
Buckland St Mary 13 190.90x
Cullompton 13 43.71x
East Stonehouse 13 9.69x
Everton 13 1.05x
Exeter St Sidwell 13 8.33x
Salford 13 1.14x
Atherington 12 206.90x
Blagdon 12 108.21x
Bristol St Augustine 12 11.59x
Bristol St James St Paul 12 5.61x
Hastings Holy Trinity 12 29.51x
Littleham 12 24.09x
Stokenham 12 62.53x
Uny Lelant 12 59.91x
Wiveliscombe 12 40.87x
Wootton Courtney 12 325.20x
Bermondsey 11 1.13x
Bishops Hull 11 64.63x
Dulverton 11 71.29x
Hampstead London 11 2.16x
Manchester 11 0.63x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.13x
St Andrew Holborn 11 9.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 254
Elizabeth 154
Sarah 109
Jane 86
Ann 65
Annie 53
Eliza 52
Emma 49
Alice 47
Emily 44
Ellen 43
Louisa 30
Catherine 27
Margaret 27
Hannah 23
Edith 22
Martha 22
Florence 21
Susan 21
Caroline 19
Harriet 19
Charlotte 17
Kate 16
Lucy 16
Julia 15
Maria 15
Bessie 14
Harriett 14
Grace 12
Jessie 12
Laura 12
Ada 11
Fanny 11
Maud 11
Rose 11
Henrietta 10
Anne 9
Clara 9
Agnes 8
Amelia 8
Esther 8
Isabella 8
Matilda 8
Beatrice 7
Rebecca 7
Selina 7
Bertha 6
Elizth. 6
Minnie 6
Ruth 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 228
John 204
James 137
Thomas 93
George 86
Charles 64
Henry 55
Robert 50
Joseph 45
Richard 43
Alfred 34
Edward 33
Frederick 32
Samuel 25
Walter 25
Edwin 20
Albert 19
Frank 18
Ernest 16
Francis 15
Harry 13
Arthur 12
Wm. 11
Stephen 10
Thos. 10
Herbert 9
Sydney 9
Andrew 8
Peter 8
Tom 8
David 7
Fredrick 7
Paul 7
Abraham 6
Sidney 6
Benjamin 4
Christopher 4
Douglas 4
Geo. 4
Matthew 4
Charley 3
Daniel 3
Earnest 3
Fred 3
Govier 3
Isaac 3
Lewis 3
Oliver 3
Patrick 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Quick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,336 people were recorded with the Quick surname. That placed it at #1,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,356 in 2016. That gives Quick a modern rank of #2,021.

What does the Quick surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a messenger or courier, derived from the Old English word "cwic," meaning alive or fast.

What does the Quick map show?

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