NameCensus.

UK surname

Quist

A surname of Dutch or Low German origin, derived from the word "kvist," meaning "twig" or "branch."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Quist surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham, Lambeth and Welwyn Hatfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quist is 124 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11800.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

2010

124 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quist had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Quist surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quist surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quist 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Quists 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 Barking and Dagenham, Lambeth, Welwyn Hatfield, Brent and Camden. 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 Barking and Dagenham 011 Barking and Dagenham
2 Lambeth 002 Lambeth
3 Welwyn Hatfield 012 Welwyn Hatfield
4 Brent 027 Brent
5 Camden 013 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quist

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quist

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Quist surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Quist 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Quist is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Quist 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

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

Meaning and origin of Quist

The surname Quist is of Scandinavian origin, originating from Norway and Sweden. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "kvistr," which means "branch" or "twig." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a particular tree or group of trees.

In the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, such as Quister, Qwister, and Quistere, in historical records and documents across Scandinavia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Danish Census Rolls of 1472, where a man named Jens Quist is listed as a resident of Copenhagen.

The Quist surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Rasmus Quist, a Danish astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1627 to 1689. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was a pioneer in the study of comets.

Another prominent figure was Peter Quist, a Swedish painter and engraver who lived from 1609 to 1669. He was renowned for his intricate etchings and woodcuts, many of which depicted scenes from everyday life in 17th-century Sweden.

In the realm of literature, the name Quist is associated with Gunnar Quist, a Swedish author and poet who lived from 1899 to 1977. He was a prolific writer and is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Swedish literature.

The Quist surname has also been linked to various place names throughout Scandinavia. For example, the village of Quistrum in Norway is believed to have derived its name from the Old Norse word "kvistr," suggesting a connection to the surname's origins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Quist name in the British Isles dates back to the 16th century, when a man named Hans Quist, a Dutch merchant, settled in London in 1563. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to England through trade and migration from the Netherlands and other parts of Northern Europe.

Over the centuries, the Quist surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, artisans, scholars, and noblemen. While not as widely known as some other Scandinavian surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical fabric of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quist families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quist 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 1 Quists recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 1 322.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fishguard in Pembrokeshire leads with 1 Quists recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Fishguard 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Martha 1

FAQ

Quist surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quist surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Quist surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quist surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Quist a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Quist surname mean?

A surname of Dutch or Low German origin, derived from the word "kvist," meaning "twig" or "branch."

What does the Quist map show?

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