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Quaife Family History

Quaife Surname Meaning

Irish and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Caoimh (see O'Keefe). Gaelic c followed by a, o, or u is often Anglicized as q in Manx.

English (Sussex): of Norman origin a nickname from Old French coif ‘coif’, a kind of close-fitting cap, presumably denoting someone who was a maker or habitual wearer of such caps.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Quaife family from?

You can see how Quaife families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Quaife family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Quaife families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 125 Quaife families living in Sussex. This was about 51% of all the recorded Quaife's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Quaife families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Quaife surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Quaife ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Postman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Quaife. 60% of Quaife men worked as a Postman and 80% of Quaife women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Quaife were Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Quaife | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Postman
    60%
  • Carpenter
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Quaife family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Quaife. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Quaife census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Quaife

Passenger Lists

There are 615 immigration records available for the last name Quaife. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Quaife immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 540 military records available for the last name Quaife. For the veterans among your Quaife ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Quaife military records

You've only scratched the surface of Quaife family history

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What is the average Quaife lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Quaife life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Quaife in 1963 was 52, and 93 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Quaife

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Quaife ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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