Convert Filipino quinon to square yard

Imagine you're holding a 19th-century Philippine land deed mentioning "5 quinones' of rice fields. How big was that plot really? That's where converting quinon to square yards becomes your secret weapon. Whether you're researching family history or analyzing colonial-era documents, this guide helps you bridge old-world measurements with modern imperial units.

Unit definitions

What is a Filipino quinon (quinon)?

Description: Traditional unit for measuring agricultural land during Spanish colonial rule
Symbol: None official
Common uses: Land transactions, crop yield estimation
Definition: 1 quinon = 1,000 square brazas (1 braza ≈ 1.67 meters)

What is a square yard (sq yd)?

Description: Imperial unit of area still used in some countries
Symbol: yd²
Common uses: Textiles, small land measurements, flooring
Definition: 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft = 0.83612736 sq meters

Conversion formula

1 quinon = (1,000 × 1.67 meters²) = 2,788.9 sq meters
1 sq yard = 0.83612736 sq meters
Thus: 1 quinon = 2,788.9 / 0.83612736 ≈ 1,393.55 sq yd

Example calculations

1. Converting 2.5 quinones:
   2.5 × 1,393.55 = 3,483.88 sq yd
   (Rounded to nearest whole number: 3,484 sq yd)
2. Converting 800 sq yd to quinones:
   800 ÷ 1,393.55 ≈ 0.574 quinon
   (Rounded to three decimals: 0.574 quinon)

Conversion tables

Quinon to square yards

Square yards to quinon

From rice fields to modern measurements

The quinon's story begins with Spanish galleons. When colonial administrators needed to tax farmlands, they adapted local braza measurements into the quinon system. A braza (literally "armspan") roughly matched the Spanish vara (0.835 meters), creating a hybrid unit that persisted until metrication.

Fun fact, the 1,000-square-braza standard likely originated from tax calculations. One quinon of riceland typically produced about 25 cavans of rice, making it easy for collectors to estimate revenues. Today, you'll find quinones referenced in two main places, antique property deeds and folk songs praising fertile fields.

Square yards entered the Philippine context through American influence. While never officially adopted nationally, they're still used colloquially. Older tailors in Manila might quote fabric prices per square yard, and some construction materials list coverage in yd² alongside metric units.

Interesting facts!!

1. A quinon equals approximately 1.15 acres, making it slightly larger than the American football field (1.1 acres)
2. The braza measurement varied regionally before standardization, causing historical conversion headaches
3. Modern Manila's Rizal Park covers about 1,200 quinones of land
4. Square yards remain popular in Philippine embroidery patterns
5. The word "quinon" derives from Spanish "quintal" (hundredweight), though their measurements differ

FAQ