NameCensus.

UK surname

Quinney

A variant spelling of the surname Quinney, derived from the Middle English personal name Quenild.

In the 1881 census there were 358 people recorded with the Quinney surname, ranking it #8,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 890, ranked #6,353, up from #8,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Foleshill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Barnsley and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quinney is 932 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 148.6%.

1881 census count

358

Ranked #8,638

Modern count

890

2016, ranked #6,353

Peak year

2010

932 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quinney had 358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 890 in 2016, ranked #6,353.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 648 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Quinney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quinney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quinney 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 184 #12,856
1881 historical 358 #8,638
1891 historical 419 #8,551
1901 historical 554 #7,498
1911 historical 648 #6,460
1997 modern 869 #6,130
1998 modern 888 #6,222
1999 modern 904 #6,182
2000 modern 900 #6,177
2001 modern 867 #6,237
2002 modern 889 #6,238
2003 modern 887 #6,154
2004 modern 907 #6,059
2005 modern 870 #6,186
2006 modern 839 #6,380
2007 modern 866 #6,287
2008 modern 865 #6,330
2009 modern 902 #6,255
2010 modern 932 #6,208
2011 modern 931 #6,167
2012 modern 888 #6,305
2013 modern 904 #6,326
2014 modern 920 #6,274
2015 modern 908 #6,293
2016 modern 890 #6,353

Geography

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Where Quinneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Foleshill, Cropredy 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 Stratford-on-Avon, Barnsley, Hinckley and Bosworth, Colchester and Bedford. 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 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Foleshill Warwickshire
4 Cropredy Oxfordshire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 001 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Barnsley 030 Barnsley
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 008 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Colchester 022 Colchester
5 Bedford 003 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quinney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quinney

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Quinney is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Quinney is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Quinney falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Quinney 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Quinney

The surname QUINNEY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the county of Hertfordshire, specifically in the town of Quinbury, derived from the Old English words "cwin" meaning a queen or a woman, and "bury" meaning a fortified town or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname QUINNEY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire, dated around 1190, where a certain Richard de Quinbury is mentioned as a landowner in the region. This suggests that the name was already well-established during the late 12th century.

Another notable historical reference is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John de Quinnebury is listed among the villagers of Quinbury, providing further evidence of the surname's prevalence in the area.

In the 14th century, during the reign of Edward III, a William Quinney is recorded as having participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346, a pivotal engagement in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

Over the centuries, the surname has seen various spellings, including Quinbury, Quynbury, Quynnebury, and Quinnebury, before eventually settling into its modern form of QUINNEY.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Thomas Quinney (1590-1665), an English Puritan clergyman and author, who served as the rector of Ridgewell in Essex during the 17th century.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Quinney (1655-1723), a successful merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1708 and played a significant role in the expansion of trade with the American colonies.

In the 19th century, John Quinney (1814-1892) gained recognition as a pioneering horticulturist and nurseryman, credited with developing several new varieties of fruit trees and roses in his nurseries near Nottingham.

The name QUINNEY has also been associated with literary figures, such as the English poet and playwright Edward Quinney (1828-1903), whose works often explored themes of rural life and nature.

Finally, a more recent figure was William Quinney (1906-1988), a renowned British architect who designed notable structures like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and the University of East Anglia campus.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quinney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quinney 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. Warwickshire leads with 117 Quinneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.43x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 117 11.43x
Isle of Man 58 76.97x
Oxfordshire 57 22.75x
Lancashire 33 0.69x
Middlesex 29 0.71x
Surrey 21 1.06x
Essex 20 2.50x
East Lothian 16 29.77x
Worcestershire 14 2.64x
Kent 12 0.87x
Staffordshire 12 0.88x
Cambridgeshire 10 3.89x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.10x
Northamptonshire 3 0.79x
Dumfriesshire 2 2.23x
Leicestershire 2 0.44x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.78x
Renfrewshire 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 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. Mollington in Oxfordshire leads with 34 Quinneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8947.37x.

Place Total Index
Mollington 34 8947.37x
Malew 31 471.12x
Coventry Holy Trinity 29 94.90x
Foleshill 23 213.56x
Willoughby 14 3255.81x
Broughton In Salford 12 27.25x
Aston 11 3.90x
Coventry St Michael 11 33.47x
St Anne 11 1358.02x
Barnes 10 119.62x
Bourton 9 1304.35x
Bromley London 9 10.08x
Humbie 9 708.66x
Lambeth 9 2.54x
Woodford 9 99.23x
Tanworth 8 296.30x
Blackburn 7 5.46x
Chesterton 7 88.38x
Onchan 7 32.24x
Stoke 7 346.53x
Stoke Prior 7 214.07x
Margate St John Baptist 6 23.67x
Neithrop 6 71.26x
Paddington London 6 4.02x
Cropredy 5 657.89x
Kensington London 5 2.22x
Liverpool 5 1.71x
Maughold 5 86.06x
Pencaitland 5 326.80x
St George Hanover 5 9.44x
Wolvey 5 458.72x
Alvechurch 4 177.78x
Manchester 4 1.85x
Meopham 4 233.92x
Radford 4 14.39x
Tamworth 4 54.64x
Grandborough 3 500.00x
Sowe 3 163.04x
St Andrewthe Less 3 10.22x
Walsall Foreign 3 4.24x
Witham 3 72.64x
Wormingford 3 454.55x
Chapel 2 400.00x
Claines 2 13.76x
German Peel 2 46.08x
Gillingham 2 7.01x
Hammersmith London 2 2.00x
Handsworth 2 5.92x
Hucknall Torkard 2 14.42x
Mortlake 2 22.70x
Shilton 2 344.83x
Southminster 2 113.64x
Tinwald 2 166.67x
Wardington 2 232.56x
Aberlady 1 71.94x
Braddan 1 24.27x
Bradford 1 1.03x
Bradford 1 4.44x
Brighton 1 0.72x
Burbage 1 42.55x
Catesby 1 714.29x
Daventry 1 18.52x
Dirleton 1 47.39x
Enville 1 92.59x
Everton 1 0.65x
Great Lever 1 19.57x
Hackney London 1 0.44x
Kidlington 1 51.55x
Kings Norton 1 2.10x
Leicester St Martin 1 33.11x
Openshaw 1 4.43x
Pembroke St Mary 1 6.02x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.74x
Port Glasgow 1 6.58x
Rugeley 1 10.17x
Rushen 1 19.61x
Solihull 1 13.59x
Thenford 1 714.29x
Wivenhoe 1 31.45x
Wolverhampton 1 0.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 25
John 23
William 22
George 17
James 12
Frederick 9
Arthur 7
Joseph 7
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Henry 3
David 2
Edgar 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Soloman 2
Stephen 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Benjohn 1
Bromly 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Ellis 1
Franklin 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Harmon 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Ivo 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Jushua 1
Matthias 1
Milton 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Stanley 1
Tom 1
Urias 1

FAQ

Quinney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quinney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 358 people were recorded with the Quinney surname. That placed it at #8,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quinney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 890 in 2016. That gives Quinney a modern rank of #6,353.

What does the Quinney surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Quinney, derived from the Middle English personal name Quenild.

What does the Quinney map show?

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