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Canter Family History

Canter Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex of Norman origin): variant of Cantor.

Americanized form of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Kanter and perhaps also of Kantor.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Canter family from?

You can see how Canter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Canter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Canter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 154 Canter families living in London. This was about 32% of all the recorded Canter's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Canter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Canter 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 Canter ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Commercial Traveller and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Canter. 17% of Canter men worked as a Commercial Traveller and 76% of Canter women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Canter were Farm Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Canter | 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

  • Commercial Traveller
    17%
  • General Labourer (retired)
    17%
  • Constructing A R P Shelters
    12%
  • Farm Labourer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Canter family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Canter

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Canter. For the veterans among your Canter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Canter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Canter family history

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What is the average Canter lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Canter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Canter in 1946 was 53, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Canter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Canter 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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