NameCensus.

UK surname

Quirk

An English surname derived from the Middle English term "quirk," meaning a clever twist or subtle verbal trait.

In the 1881 census there were 781 people recorded with the Quirk surname, ranking it #4,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,800, ranked #3,511, up from #4,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barrow-in-Furness, Cornwall and Kilwinning West and Blacklands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quirk is 1,822 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.5%.

1881 census count

781

Ranked #4,748

Modern count

1,800

2016, ranked #3,511

Peak year

2014

1,822 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quirk had 781 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,800 in 2016, ranked #3,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,122 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Quirk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quirk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quirk 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 397 #6,070
1861 historical 400 #6,412
1881 historical 781 #4,748
1891 historical 892 #4,617
1901 historical 1,122 #4,319
1911 historical 1,114 #4,172
1997 modern 1,741 #3,429
1998 modern 1,772 #3,493
1999 modern 1,801 #3,473
2000 modern 1,785 #3,488
2001 modern 1,764 #3,451
2002 modern 1,804 #3,446
2003 modern 1,779 #3,426
2004 modern 1,778 #3,436
2005 modern 1,708 #3,527
2006 modern 1,708 #3,533
2007 modern 1,707 #3,561
2008 modern 1,718 #3,566
2009 modern 1,758 #3,572
2010 modern 1,819 #3,535
2011 modern 1,797 #3,537
2012 modern 1,747 #3,556
2013 modern 1,800 #3,530
2014 modern 1,822 #3,518
2015 modern 1,798 #3,523
2016 modern 1,800 #3,511

Geography

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Where Quirks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, West Derby and Walton-on-the-Hill. 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, Cornwall, Kilwinning West and Blacklands, West Lancashire and Liverpool. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
2 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
3 Kilwinning West and Blacklands North Ayrshire
4 West Lancashire 012 West Lancashire
5 Liverpool 040 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quirk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quirk

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Quirk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Quirk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Quirk 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

Quirk 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

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

Meaning and origin of Quirk

The surname QUIRK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cwirc" or "cwirce," meaning a sharp turn or twist. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a peculiar or eccentric habit or characteristic.

QUIRK first appeared in historical records in the late 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, dating back to 1273, where a person named William Quirk was mentioned.

In the 14th century, the surname was often spelled as "Qwyrke" or "Qwyrkke," reflecting the evolution of the English language and spelling conventions at the time.

The QUIRK surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, John Quirk (c. 1560-1634) was a prominent English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

During the English Civil War, Edward Quirk (c. 1620-1688) was a Puritan preacher and supporter of the Parliamentary cause. He was known for his fiery sermons and political activism.

In the 18th century, John Quirk (1701-1765) was an English engraver and artist who produced numerous engravings and illustrations for books and publications.

In the 19th century, Sir John Quirk (1828-1904) was a British naval officer and explorer. He participated in several Arctic expeditions and was knighted for his contributions to navigation and exploration.

Another notable figure was Mary Ann Quirk (1830-1912), an Irish-American educator and activist. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to promoting education and women's rights in the United States.

Over time, the QUIRK surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Quirk's Farm in Dorset and Quirk's Hill in Lancashire, reflecting the geographical spread of families bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quirk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quirk 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 637 Quirks recorded in 1881 and an index of 246.77x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 637 246.77x
Lancashire 417 2.53x
Yorkshire 76 0.55x
Surrey 68 1.00x
Middlesex 47 0.34x
Cumberland 39 3.26x
Glamorgan 20 0.83x
Angus 15 1.16x
Gloucestershire 14 0.51x
Cheshire 13 0.42x
Lanarkshire 11 0.24x
Devon 10 0.35x
Hampshire 10 0.35x
Sussex 6 0.26x
Channel Islands 5 1.21x
Midlothian 5 0.27x
Durham 4 0.10x
Kent 4 0.08x
Monmouthshire 4 0.40x
Warwickshire 4 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 1.81x
Staffordshire 3 0.06x
Westmorland 3 0.98x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.34x
Lincolnshire 2 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. German Peel in Isle of Man leads with 133 Quirks recorded in 1881 and an index of 895.02x.

Place Total Index
German Peel 133 895.02x
Patrick 119 945.95x
Onchan 105 141.20x
Liverpool 90 8.98x
German 85 603.69x
Toxteth Park 77 13.79x
Rushen 59 337.92x
West Derby 38 7.87x
Everton 36 6.85x
Kirkdale 32 11.53x
Marown 28 594.48x
Maughold 21 105.42x
Braddan 18 127.66x
Leeds 18 2.31x
Battersea 17 3.32x
Camberwell 17 1.91x
Hulme 17 4.94x
Walton On Hill 16 17.91x
Malew 14 62.08x
Sheffield 14 3.19x
Clayton Le Moors 13 40.63x
Dundee 13 2.70x
Kensington London 13 1.68x
Andreas 12 171.43x
Workington 12 17.51x
Bradford 11 3.30x
Pennington In Leigh 11 34.76x
Swansea Town 11 5.54x
Blackburn 10 2.28x
Broughton In Salford 10 6.63x
Lambeth 10 0.83x
Douglas 9 240.64x
Eling 9 31.19x
Manningham 9 5.30x
Lezayre 8 69.08x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.73x
Glasgow 7 0.88x
Hensingham 7 71.57x
Islington London 7 0.52x
Manchester 7 0.94x
Michael 7 133.33x
St George In East 7 7.40x
Stoke Damerel 7 3.46x
Birkenhead 6 2.45x
Brighton 6 1.27x
Carshalton 6 23.15x
Dalton In Furness 6 9.42x
Gate Fulford 6 18.65x
Shoreditch London 6 1.00x
St Mary Within 6 40.13x
Swansea Higher 6 23.80x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 10.55x
Garston 5 10.27x
Halifax 5 2.47x
Lonan 5 31.97x
Newington 5 0.97x
Salford 5 1.03x
Sevenhampton 5 207.47x
St Giles In Fields 5 10.43x
St Helier 5 3.73x
Wavertree 5 9.47x
Whitehaven 5 7.84x
Barnsley 4 2.82x
Bride 4 113.31x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.09x
Elton 4 7.02x
Great Crosby 4 8.89x
Halliwell 4 6.66x
Maryhill 4 4.55x
Parr 4 6.78x
Richmond 4 4.21x
St Anne 4 143.88x
St Pancras London 4 0.36x
Arbory 3 53.38x
Bedford 3 8.70x
Harrington 3 20.76x
Helmington Row 3 15.58x
Royal Navy 3 2.12x
Southworth With Croft 3 60.85x
Wandsworth 3 2.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 90
Margaret 65
Elizabeth 64
Catherine 61
Ann 32
Jane 32
Sarah 30
Annie 28
Ellen 21
Eleanor 19
Eliza 16
Isabella 16
Emily 15
Alice 10
Bridget 10
Louisa 9
Christian 6
Esther 6
Rebecca 6
Edith 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Anne 4
Cathrine 4
Charlotte 4
Johanna 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Margt. 4
Martha 4
Matilda 4
Cath. 3
Julia 3
Leonora 3
Margret 3
Maria 3
Norah 3
Sage 3
Adelaide 2
Amelia 2
Catharine 2
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Ellenor 2
Honora 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Margeret 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 134
William 85
Thomas 80
James 62
Robert 25
Edward 21
George 18
Richard 18
Patrick 17
Joseph 14
Philip 13
Charles 11
Michael 11
Daniel 9
Evan 9
David 8
Henry 8
Wm. 8
Walter 7
Frederick 6
Peter 6
Thos. 6
Arthur 4
Jno. 4
Albert 3
Alexander 3
Alfred 3
Ambrose 3
Dennis 3
Brighton 2
Christopher 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Joshua 2
Martin 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Ceasar 1
Ceaser 1
Ceasor 1
Edw. 1
Ernest 1
Etheldred 1
Even 1
Jacob 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Quirk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quirk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 781 people were recorded with the Quirk surname. That placed it at #4,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quirk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,800 in 2016. That gives Quirk a modern rank of #3,511.

What does the Quirk surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English term "quirk," meaning a clever twist or subtle verbal trait.

What does the Quirk map show?

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