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 Cantor family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cantor Family History

Cantor Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex of Norman origin): nickname or occupational name from Old French c(h)aunteor Anglo-Norman French c(h)aunter ‘singer chorister one who leads the singing’ also (in Old French) ‘poet minstrel’. The earliest examples of this surname are from Latin cantor (the ancestor of the Old French word) and refer to precentors in cathedrals or monasteries while the modern surname of Old French origin will have originally denoted a secular singing role.

Compare Canter. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Kantor. French (Picardy): learned form of chantre ‘singer’. Compare 1 above.

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 Cantor family from?

You can see how Cantor families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cantor family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Cantor families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 44 Cantor families living in London. This was about 54% of all the recorded Cantor's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cantor families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cantor 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 Cantor ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cabinet Maker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cantor. 20% of Cantor men worked as a Cabinet Maker and 80% of Cantor women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cantor were House Furnisher Owner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Cantor | 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

  • Cabinet Maker
    20%
  • Gents Tailor
    20%
  • Tailor
    20%
  • House Furnisher Owner
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%

What Cantor family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 19,000 census records available for the last name Cantor. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cantor census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cantor

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cantor. 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 Cantor immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Cantor. For the veterans among your Cantor ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cantor military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cantor family history

Discover More

What is the average Cantor lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Cantor life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Cantor in 1946 was 47, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cantor

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cantor 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 Cantor family tree

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