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Canton Family History

Canton Surname Meaning

English Welsh (Pembrokeshire) and Irish (Mayo and Westmeath of Anglo-Norman origin): shortened form of Cannington from Cannington (Somerset). The first of this name in Pembrokeshire was an Anglo-Norman lord Sir William de Cantington of Eglwyswrw, also known as Hen Wiliam Caentwyn who died c. 1230. The surname was frequently written as Cantetone, Caunton, and Canton.

In the late 12th or early 13th century, members of the Pembrokeshire family obtained estates in Ireland where it was Gaelicized as Condún; see Condon.

English (of Huguenot origin): habitational name from Cantin Nord (France). Galician (Cantón): habitational name from any of the places in Lugo and Pontevedra provinces (in Galicia, Spain) named Cantón, from a derivative of canto ‘corner’ (see Canto).

French (southern): topographic name from Occitan canton ‘corner’ denoting someone who lived on a street corner.

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


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Where is the Canton family from?

You can see how Canton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Canton families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 63 Canton families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Canton's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Canton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canton 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 Canton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dentist and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Canton. 18% of Canton men worked as a Dentist and 79% of Canton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Canton were Cowman and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Canton | 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

  • Dentist
    18%
  • Ladies Hairdresser
    12%
  • Clothing Salesman Marker
    12%
  • Cowman
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Canton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Canton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Canton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Canton

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Canton. 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 Canton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Canton. For the veterans among your Canton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Canton family history

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What is the average Canton lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Canton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Canton in 1947 was 49, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Canton 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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