Surname Quatermain - Meaning and Origin
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Quatermain: What does the surname Quatermain mean?
Quatermain is an English topographic surname derived from the French words quart (“quarter”) and main (“hand”). The surname likely originated in the late Middle Ages when the Macon of France began recording not just the names of people, but also their occupations, physical characteristics, patronym, and topographic information. In this context, the name Quatermain was likely used to signify a person who lived or worked in or near a quarter of a region or village.
Alternate spellings of the surname Quatermain include Quartermain, Quartmain, and Quaterman. The name is most common in England, Scotland, Australia, and Canada. Variations of the surname have also been found in other regions, including the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Though its origin is topographical, Quatermain is most widely recognized as the last name of the adventurer, Allan Quatermain, in H. Rider Haggard’s African adventure novels, including King Solomon’s Mines and Allan Quatermain. The character was so popular that he spawned a large number of other works, ranging from the 1984 film adaptation of King Solomon’s Mines to the 2013 videogame, Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Chiefs.
In short, Quatermain is an Anglo-French surname with topographical roots. It became a well-known name due to H. Rider Haggard’s popular series of novels revolving around the adventures of the character Allan Quatermain.
Order DNA origin analysisQuatermain: Where does the name Quatermain come from?
The last name Quatermain is relatively uncommon in our modern world. However, it can be found in parts of Europe, South Africa, and North America.
In Europe, the name is predominately seen in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and France. In addition, records dating back to the early 19th century suggest that the name was very common in areas around London, England, at that time.
In South Africa, Quatermain is found in both Northern and Southern Provinces. It is believed that the name arrived in South Africa when European sailors settled around the Cape Town area in the late 1600s.
In North America, Quatermain is seen most often in the United States. It can be found in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. The name most likely arrived in the US due to immigration from Europe in the early 1800s.
Given the spread of the name and its origins, one can assume that the Quatermain name was likely given to early explorers or colonizers who may have travelled a lot. As such, it may be possible that its presence in these different countries is because of those activities.
Variations of the surname Quatermain
The surname Quatermain is a variant of the English surname Quartremaine or Quartermain. It is derived from the Latin words quartus ("fourth") and mains ("main"), denoting a particular type of tenant in pre-modern feudal law; one who held the fourth part of a manor.
Variants of the surname include Quartremaine and Quartrimain, and could also be spelled in a variety of forms such as Quatermayne, Quatremayn, Quatroeman, Quatremayen, Quatemaine, Quartremayen, Quhttp://earnmoneyonlineinfo.com/forum/upload/index.phpruaryne, Quatreman, Quartremayne, Quatremane, Quatermane, Quatremayne, Quattyman, Quatroemaine, Quatremayn, and Quatryman.
Surnames of similar origin include Quartermaine, Quartarman, Quarrman, Quarmby, Quartararo, Quartermein, Quartreman, Quartermann, Quartermene, Quatramaine, and Quiremain.
Since the spelling is somewhat arbitrary, there is room for more variation if needed. The spelling of the surname could be modified to fit the situation, for example being shortened to Quatremain if space is limited on an application form.
Famous people with the name Quatermain
- Allan Quatermain, central character of the adventure novel Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard.
- Scarlier Quatermain, central character of the novel Child of Storm by H. Rider Haggard.
- Jean-Paul Quatermain, a character from the novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore.
- Bart Quatermain, a character from the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes.
- Dr. Caliban Quatermain, a character from the film League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Stephen Norrington.
- Miles Quatermain, a character from the TV Programme Doctor Who.
- Zack Quatermain, a character from the TV Series The Adventures of Sinbad.
- Robert Wilson Quatermain, a character from Marvel Comics' Union Jack series.
- Simon Quatermain, a character from the novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier by Alan Moore.
- William Quatermain, a character from the novel She by H. Rider Haggard.