Explore the Family Name Quail
The meaning of Quail
1. Irish, Scottish, and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Phóil, Scottish Gaelic Mac Phàil ‘son of Paul’ (see McFall). 2. English: from Middle English, Old French quaille ‘quail’, a bird noted for both its supposed amorous disposition and its timidity. 3. American shortened and altered form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Kvalvaser: artificial name, meaning ‘spring water’ in Yiddish.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Quail in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Quail has undergone a slight shift in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Quail ranked 20,693 in popularity, but by 2010 it had dropped to 21,459, marking a decrease of 3.7%. The number of individuals with this surname, however, increased from 1,188 in 2000 to 1,218 in 2010, demonstrating a growth of 2.53%. Yet, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of Quail decreased by 6.82% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,693 | #21,459 | -3.7% |
| Count | 1,188 | 1,218 | 2.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.44 | 0.41 | -6.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Quail
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts in the distribution for the surname Quail between 2000 and 2010. While the majority of individuals identifying as White remained relatively stable at approximately 86%, there were some notable changes among other ethnic identities. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander grew by 36.90%, and the Hispanic population increased by 26.80%. On the other hand, the proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races saw a decrease of 25.99%, and those identifying as Black witnessed a decline of 12.11%. The percentage of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also slightly fell by 8.73% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.61% | 86.37% | 0.89% |
| Black | 8.59% | 7.55% | -12.11% |
| Hispanic | 1.94% | 2.46% | 26.8% |
| Two or More Races | 1.77% | 1.31% | -25.99% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.84% | 1.15% | 36.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.26% | 1.15% | -8.73% |