This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Cant family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cant Family History

Cant Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: nickname from Middle English cant caunt ‘bold brave fierce’. Americanized form of German Kant.

English and Scottish: from Old French cant caunt ‘song’; see Chant.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cant family from?

You can see how Cant families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cant family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cant families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 329 Cant families living in Essex. This was about 24% of all the recorded Cant's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Cant families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cant surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cant ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cant. 17% of Cant men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Cant women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cant were Medical Practitioner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Cant | 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

  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    6%
  • Medical Practitioner
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Cant family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 39,000 census records available for the last name Cant. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cant census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cant

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Cant. 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 Cant immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Cant. For the veterans among your Cant ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cant military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cant family history

Discover More

What is the average Cant lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Cant life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Cant in 1959 was 57, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cant

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cant 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cant family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial