NameCensus.

UK surname

Quy

A Vietnamese surname derived from the word "quý" meaning noble or precious.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Quy surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Barking and Paglesham (incl. Wallisea Island). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Quy is 233 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.5%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

2005

233 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Quy had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Quy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Quy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Quy 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 121 #15,049
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 225 #16,882
2005 modern 233 #16,434
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 203 #19,504
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

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Where Quys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Barking, Paglesham (incl. Wallisea Island) and St Anne Limehouse. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Kingston upon Thames, Sutton, Medway and South Bucks. 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 1
2 Barking Essex
3 Paglesham (incl. Wallisea Island) Essex
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Anne Limehouse London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 014 Sevenoaks
2 Kingston upon Thames 017 Kingston upon Thames
3 Sutton 025 Sutton
4 Medway 004 Medway
5 South Bucks 003 South Bucks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Quy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Quy

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Quy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Quy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Quy 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

Quy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Quy

The surname Quy has its origins in Vietnam, and is believed to have first emerged during the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Vietnamese word "quy," which means "precious" or "valuable." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who were considered to be of high status or importance within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quy can be found in a collection of historical documents from the Lê Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1428 to 1788. These records mention a prominent scholar and poet named Quy Hao, who lived during the late 15th century and was known for his contributions to Vietnamese literature.

In the 16th century, there are references to a village in the northern region of Vietnam called Quy Nhơn, which may have been named after an individual with the surname Quy or derived from the same linguistic root. This village is mentioned in several historical texts from the time, suggesting that the name had become well-established in certain areas of the country.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Quy surname began to appear in various official records and documents throughout Vietnam. One notable figure from this period was Quy Đồng, a military leader and strategist who played a significant role in the Tây Sơn Rebellion against the Nguyễn lords in the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, a prominent scholar and philosopher named Quy Nhơn (1809-1888) gained recognition for his writings on Confucianism and Vietnamese culture. His works were widely studied and influenced many intellectual circles of the time.

Another individual of note was Quy Cương (1858-1919), a reformist and writer who advocated for modernization and social change in Vietnam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

As the surname Quy spread throughout Vietnam and beyond, it continued to be associated with individuals of various professions and backgrounds, including artists, academics, and political figures. While not as common as some other Vietnamese surnames, it has maintained a consistent presence throughout the country's history and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Quy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Quy 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. Essex leads with 105 Quys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.41x.

County Total Index
Essex 105 35.41x
Middlesex 31 2.06x
Kent 8 1.56x
Durham 6 1.34x
Surrey 4 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Totham in Essex leads with 22 Quys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13750.00x.

Place Total Index
Little Totham 22 13750.00x
Paglesham 16 6153.85x
Limehouse London 15 90.96x
Barking 11 126.73x
Tillingham 9 1730.77x
Bradwell 8 1568.63x
East Ham 8 145.45x
Braintree 6 225.56x
Hackney London 6 7.12x
Hawkwell 6 4285.71x
Rochester St Margaret 6 111.11x
Fulham London 5 22.95x
Goldhanger 4 1538.46x
Leyton Low 4 66.34x
West Rainton 4 289.86x
Battersea 3 5.43x
Rochford 3 348.84x
Bocking 2 112.36x
Hampstead London 2 8.55x
St Lawrence Newland 2 1818.18x
Chelmsford 1 19.65x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.53x
Epping 1 83.33x
Hammersmith London 1 2.70x
Inworth 1 303.03x
Islington London 1 0.69x
Northfleet 1 22.12x
Prittlewell 1 24.33x
Reigate Foreign 1 12.61x
Usworth 1 42.19x
Washington 1 53.48x
Westminster St 1 18.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 7
Emma 6
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Annie 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Johana 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Fannie 1
Harriet 1
Hattie 1
Hope 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
May 1
Miriam 1
Rosetta 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Quy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Quy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Quy surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Quy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Quy a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Quy surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname derived from the word "quý" meaning noble or precious.

What does the Quy map show?

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